Acculturation has been conceptualized as a bilinear process characterized by developing an orientation to both the dominant culture but also the culture of origin (Serrata & Fischer, 2013; Dettlaff et al., 2009, p. 4). However, acculturation is not simply a process that people go through, but rather it is part of the migration experience and thus people are very likely to experience acculturation stress. Acculturative stress results when individuals lack the necessary coping skill or means to interact and be successful in the new environment (Dettlaff et al., 2009, p.4).According to Arbona, Olvera, Rodriguez, Hagan, Linares, and Wiesner (2010) study, there are three major types of stressors among Latino immigrants: instrumental/environmental, social/interpersonal, and societal (p. 362). Instrumental/environmental stressors include challenges related to obtaining the goods and services needed for one’s daily existence. …show more content…
Leuck and Wilson (2010) found that factors such as context of migration exit, the age at the time of migration, native language proficiency need to be considered as they affect the individual’s ability to adapt to the new environment. Not much data is available on how immigrants experience acculturation stress, but what is known is that less educated and older (14+) immigrants experience high rates of (Leuck & Wilson, 2010). This acculturative stress not only has psychological implications as immigrants are very likely to experience anxiety and depression during this initial adjustment period, but it also has health implications (Martinez, McClure, Eddy, & Wilson, 2011). Martinez et al. (2011) found that for immigrant families’ the first few years in the United States, when it is expected that they would experience the steepest adjustment and most intense stress, parents of recent immigrant youth reported the highest levels of stress and more past year binge
Social problems include difficulties with family relationships, isolation, interpersonal conflicts, and pressures of social roles. The Latino culture tends to place a higher premium on the well-being of the family unit over that of any one family member, a concept termed familialism (Smith & Montilla, 2006). In general, familialism emphasizes interdependence and connectedness in the family, and often extends familial ties beyond the nuclear family (Falicov, 1998). Given these values, Latinos often describe depression in terms of social withdrawal and isolation (Letamendi, et al., 2013). Social roles also play an important role in mental health, traditional gender roles in particular are strongly enforced and can be a source of distress. In Latino culture, men and women are expected to fulfill the roles outlined in the traditions of Machismo and Marianismo respectively. Machismo indicates that the man is supposed to be strong and authoritative, while Marianismo designates the woman as the heart of the family both morally and emotionally (Dreby, 2006). Although there is little research on causal factors, adherence to these traditional gender roles can pose a psychological burden and has been found to be strong predictor of depression (Nuñez, et al., 2015). The centrality of social problems in the conceptualization of depression for Latinos may be reflective of the collectivistic values that are characteristic of the group. Although these values have the potential to contribute to depression, they also have the potential to serve as protective factors and promote mental health (Holleran & Waller, 2003). Therefore, it is imperative that the counselor carefully consider cultural values, both in terms of potential benefits and drawbacks, to provide appropriate counseling to the Latino
America is a land filled with immigrants coming from different corners of the worlds, all in hopes of finding a better life in the country. However, No one had an easy transition from his or her home country to this foreign land. Not every race thrived the same way—some were luckier than others, while some have faced enormous obstacles in settling down and being part of the American society. Many people have suffered
Migration has been found to have negative effects on mental health because of circumstances surrounding the move, circumstances of the actual passage, trouble adapting to the new culture, breaks in the migrant’s support system of friends and family, and disappointed expectations of social and economic acquisition.
Tran/Valdez (2015) shows how second-generation Latinos becomes blended, or assimilated, into their surrounding society, in doing so the second-generation can become more successful than their foreign parents. Based on the information used, the idea that second-generation Latinos could successfully assimilate into their surroundings better than their parents shows that society has shaped second-generation Latinos to conform to their way of life, which is taught as the better way. With Alba/Islam (2008), their data showed how the second-generation Latinos have changed the way they identify, which is a different way than their actual identity. This data shows how well Mexican-Americans have assimilated into their
Immigration has always been an issue in the United States, which is often portrayed as harmful and as major threat to American culture. As a result, various anti immigration policies have been aimed against immigrants in order to prevent and preserve the miscegenation of American culture, such as English only policies. Among the largest minority groups in the U.S, are Latinos who currently compose of 15% of the U.S population (Delgado and Stefancic 3). Unfortunately, Latinos have been accused of taking American benefits, jobs, and have wrongfully been depicted as a result of not assimilating to American culture. Latinos are often accused of resisting assimilation, but what has failed to be acknowledged is that there are obstacles set in place that are preventing Latinos from completely assimilating. Among those greatest obstacles there is discrimination. Institutional as well as individual discrimination have prevented many Latinos from feeling a sense of belonging. As a result Latinos have been reluctant to assimilate. Another major component is proximity. Many Latinos are native to nearby countries which allows for easy communication with family members as well as their culture. Moreover, it also allows for a constant influx of immigrants that replenish and preserve Latino cultures and traditions in the U.S. Lastly, Latino movements are working diligently to promote unity among communities for the purpose of creating a sense of identity and pride amongst Latinos, such as the Chicano movement.
Immigration has a great impact on first generation immigrants. Studies show that acculturation and assimilation have wide-ranging effects on the groups involved, but mostly on the immigrants' lives. There are positive and negative attributes. Attributes that are due to the issues associated with integrating cultures, and broadly related to the greater issue of immigration. The issues and discrimination towards first generation immigrants cause them to have limitations throughout their lifetime, in the country that they have moved to. Furthermore, the Hispanic and Latino community have lived through this problem for so long. They are always the group to be affected by it because they lose a sense of self and are never really accepted by the dominant or other group involved. This is a big issue that requires more attention and efforts to come up with a solution.
Rogler, L. H., D. E. Cortes, et al. (1991). "Acculturation and mental health status among Hispanics. Convergence and new directions for research." Am Psychol 46(6): 585-597.
Latinos have struggled to discover their place inside of a white America for too many years. Past stereotypes and across racism they have fought to belong. Still America is unwilling to open her arms to them. Instead she demands assimilation. With her pot full of stew she asks, "What flavor will you add to this brew?" Some question, some rebel, and others climb in. I argue that it is not the Latino who willingly agreed to partake in this stew. It is America who forced her ideals upon them through mass media and stale history. However her effort has failed, for they have refused to melt.
Immigrants leave their countries in search for a better life and improvement of their situation. There is no singular reason for immigration; motivations range from better economic prospects to political safety. As of late, the number of immigrants living in the United States is an estimated 11 million. Those who immigrate are expected to contribute to the United States culturally, politically, and economically. Yet, full assimilation becomes difficult to achieve when the immigrant is made into “the other” by the country of reception.
A sudden change in one’s surroundings can result in culture shock. Culture shock refers to the anxiety and surprise a person feels when he or she is discontented with an unfamiliar setting. The majority of practices or customs are different from what a person is used to. One may experience withdrawal, homesickness, or a desire for old friends. For example, when a person goes to live in a different place with unfamiliar surroundings, they may experience culture shock. Sometimes it is the result of losing their identity. In the article “The Phases of Culture Shock”, Pamela J. Brink and Judith Saunders describe four phases of culture shock. They are: Honeymoon Phase, Disenchantment Phase, Beginning Resolution Phase, and Effective Function Phase. These phases denote some of the stages that exemplify culture shock. The four phases are illustrated in the articles “New Immigrants: Portraits in Passage” by Thomas Bentz, “Immigrant America: A Portrait” by Alejandro Portes and Ruben G. Rumbaut, “When I Was Puerto Rican” by Esmeralda Santiago, “Today’s Immigrants, Their Stories” by Thomas Kessner and Betty Boyd Caroli, and lastly, “The New Americans: Immigrant Life in Southern California” by Ulli Steltzer, and are about the experiences of some immigrants. This essay will examine the four phases of culture shock and classify the experiences of these immigrants by the different phases of culture shock identified.
Becoming Mexican- American has been such a great book so far! I truly favored how Sanchez focused on factors that contributed to the migration of so many across the border north to the United States during the first many years of the twentieth century. During that time, immigrants experienced groups of people trying to Americanize and Mexicanize them and their people. This is a fascinating topic, and Sanchez pulls it off really well. It makes it better because Sanchez is Mexican-American himself, the son of Mexican immigrants, and his sensitivity to the nuances of the culture are very apparent throughout the book. It is the story of the creation of the Mexican-American culture, specifically in the early 1900's in Los Angeles. In addition, also in Los Angeles, Majority of the immigrants would experience the efforts to Americanize them, which was then proceeded by counter attempts to mechanize the immigrants to maintain their loyalty and to return to Mexico. This back and forth contribution developed a Mexican American identity, which was evident in food, and clothes. For example, it was particularly evident in the
(2011) studied the effects that immigration policies have on immigrant families, specifically those from Guatemala and El Salvador. 72% of the interviewed families stated that they had left behind family members during their migration; they each reported feeling conflicted about leaving their children behind in their home countries. Participants stated the high levels of fear and stress caused by deportation and even the mere possibility of it (page 289). Parents recognized the higher level of opportunity available in the United states but the main results of the study showed that laws regarding immigration and undocumented migrants are stressors for the parents and especially the
Migrating to another country and dreaming of living a blissful life is always something many immigrants wish. It is very difficult to perceive the nature of the culture, values, customs, laws, social interactions and challenges in the new country. At times, it goes so unexpected and uncalculated that the immigrants feel themselves helpless and get trapped into a situation of constantly bearing something absolutely unwanted. Especially, for families when the kids have to adjust into new environments. They could not sustain serious cultural shocks and could not get along with people of poor mortality. We notice similar situations the immigrant families face in the stories of “Trespassing’ and “Leslie in California”. The most common challenges such families face are language barriers, difference in values and low esteem.
The challenges of immigrants often extend beyond getting acclimated to having much to do with the trials encountered from immediate family members upon arrival in the United States of America. It was the summer of 2006 when I met my husband at a sporting event while he was vacationing in Jamaica. I was suddenly smitten by him masculinity and enticed by his charisma. Our relationship grew at a rapid pace and soon thereafter we repeated our pledge for better or worse. Having lived as a single mother for a number of years, being married was my fairytale, the tropical Jamaica climate had never made me felt better and it suddenly seems like the golden sunlight was even brighter. I was now humming to tunes of love songs and at times even singing
Change of culture takes place among the established inhabitants that strive to maintain their societies in the face of increasing cultural diversity in the middle of this situation. In the acculturation process both the established as well as on the newer populations are engaged. Although, findings from research cannot be generalized to other cultures, yet a little evidence shows that the actual concept of acculturation, the diverse strategies embraced by immigrants and members of the national society, and the nature of the problems may be alike to the research in other countries (Berry, 2005). Acculturation is a concept of culture change that results from intercultural contact and takes place in the dominant group as well as in the non-dominant group. Acculturation is distinguished from assimilation because of a number of alternative courses and goals to the process of acculturation. Acculturation has important distinctions for psychological work (Berry,