The Impact Of Acculturation On Ethnic Identity And Mental Health
Acculturation is typically understood as the adjustment of cultural and social ideas, beliefs, values, and behavioral patterns from one’s culture of origin to those of a different culture. Because it often has such a considerable impact on mental health, the American Psychological Association has its own definition of psychological acculturation: “an individual’s attitudinal and behavioral adjustment to another culture, which typically varies with regard to degree and type.”
Acculturalization and outcomes
Acculturation can happen on many levels, from the individual to the familial to the national. In some cases, acculturation can result in an increased appreciation and understanding of different cultures. In others, it can lead to discrimination, prejudice, and intolerance.
In an attempt to categorize acculturation attitudes, behaviors, and outcomes associated with acculturation, psychologist John Berry developed an acculturation model comprising four adaptation strategies. While more recent research presents additional ways to think about the concept, Berry’s simplified model is often considered when addressing the topic.
Berry’s model of acculturation
- Assimilation: The process through which an individual adopts the host culture and abandons the heritage culture
- Integration: When an individual or group adopts their host culture while retaining the heritage culture
- Separation: Rejection of the host culture and retention of the heritage culture
- Marginalization: Rejection of both the host and heritage cultures
The potential challenges of acculturation on families
In most cases, individual, family, and community factors all influence acculturation. Acculturative challenges faced by individuals are often mirrored in the family unit.
The relationship between racial identity, ethnic identity and mental health
Families may struggle to maintain the traditions and values of their culture while adapting to a new culture. This can create an identity and present barriers to healthy identity retention and formation for the younger generations.
Maintaining racial identity, ethnic identity and mental health
An ethnic identity is an important part of life, and it allows people to stay connected to their family, culture, and heritage. A stronger ethnic identity is associated with fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression. Even while assimilating to another culture, actively engaging in events that celebrate the family's original culture, history, and values can be worthwhile to foster an ethnic identity.
Communication barriers
New immigrant families may have difficulties communicating with people in their host culture, even if they’ve learned their native language. Informal, conversational speech often involves slang terms and other nuanced differences from the formal structure of the same language.
Additionally, differences in accents and grammar can create barriers to understanding between parties. Sometimes, differences in body language also emerge as challenges to communication between cultures.
Challenges of not assimilating
In some cases, individuals may purposely resist learning the language or choose to stay within the immigrant communities of their new country, potentially making it more difficult to learn the language.
Communication challenges can create barriers for individuals looking for employment, possibly contributing to disparities in socioeconomic status. Children may have difficulty performing or socializing in school. All parties may struggle to find social support and inclusion.
Conflicts between traditional values and new cultural norms
Acculturation can present challenges associated with differences in values and attitudes. For example, drinking alcohol is shunned in some cultures, while in others, it tends to be a typical part of the culture. Religious differences can also lead to conflict in certain circumstances, such as when a religion prohibits or limits certain foods while others eat such foods regularly or for celebratory purposes.
Exposure to such differences can lead to acculturative stress. Sometimes, families change their attitudes about such topics or change their behaviors to better “fit in” and meet societal expectations.
Social isolation and discrimination
Social isolation can occur when immigrant families don’t have access to other families of the same culture within their host society. Similarly, communication barriers can make socializing difficult in their new environment.
Discrimination for ethnic groups
Discrimination can have severe impacts on immigrant families. For example, when some immigrant parents retain their culture of origin’s parenting styles, they may be harshly judged if their culture is not understood or respected by institutions dedicated to children’s welfare, such as educational institutions or healthcare providers.
In some instances, discrimination can lead to hate crimes and violence against individuals attempting to make a life in a culture that fears or doesn’t understand them.
Acculturative family distancing
Some families experience different rates of acculturation among members, leading to conflicts within the family unit. This type of conflict is typically seen between the older and younger generations within a family.
Acculturation and familial mental health
The challenges listed above often have a severe impact on the mental health of immigrant families. Below are a few common examples of the ties between acculturation and mental health symptoms sometimes experienced by immigrant populations.
Increased stress, anxiety, and mental illness
Sociological and psychological adaptation to a new culture often comes with many challenges, from practical needs like determining where to live and work to other difficulties like navigating interpersonal relationships with other community members. Adding language barriers, perceived discrimination, and cultural differences to the equation often makes it even harder.
With time, these stressors can take a toll on one’s mental health, contributing to conditions like anxiety.
Symptoms of anxiety
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Chronic tension and fatigue
- Diminished concentration
- Challenges with decision-making or problem-solving
- Disruptions in sleep or appetite
- Persistent sense of impending danger or panic
- Heart palpitations, trembling, excessive sweating
- Headache, nausea, gastrointestinal problems
Depression and a sense of isolation
In some cases, individuals adjusting to life in a different culture may experience isolation, helplessness, and homesickness. Depression can be a common result when such experiences go unaddressed, and immigrants may not receive the support they deserve to adapt as comfortably as possible.
Experiences like these can be multifaceted. For example, a recent systematic review published in the Journal of European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry surveyed the experiences of migrant adolescents. Their findings indicated that not only could a sense of isolation result from a loss of connection to family, friends, and community, but the teens also reported experiencing a sense of loss associated with their identities.
Symptoms of depression
- A sense of helplessness or hopelessness
- Chronic sadness or low mood
- Low self-esteem
- A sense of guilt without a culpable source
- Demotivation
- Lack of interest in activities once enjoyed
- Difficulty focusing and making decisions
Intergenerational factors
Some people who immigrate to another country do so because they are fleeing from violence or danger in their home country. Exposure to atrocities can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), severe anxiety, and other mental health concerns.
Not only can PTSD profoundly impact the individuals experiencing it directly, but it can also have profound impacts on their families and loved ones. Intergenerational or transgenerational trauma can occur when trauma is transmitted between generations.
If you are experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.
Helping families cope and thrive
Despite the challenges that can occur, families can use various acculturation strategies to boost psychological adaptation to their new homes while maintaining a sense of cultural identity and pride.
Support resources for ethnic groups
There are several types of resources immigrant families can seek out to help them integrate into their new communities.
Resources to take advantage of
- Support groups with others from shared cultures and similar situations can give families a sense of belonging and community. Additionally, support groups can provide individuals with an opportunity to support others in the community by sharing their experiences and challenges.
- Immigrant families can seek support from cultural organizations, faith-based institutions, and social services to access services that meet their specific needs.
- Language support, such as language classes or interpretation services, can help families communicate more effectively and access resources and support in their new country.
- Access to education and employment opportunities can be critical for immigrant families to integrate into their new community, achieve financial stability, and adapt to the education system.
Promoting cultural pride and resilience
Maintaining and celebrating their cultural heritage and traditions can help immigrant families maintain a sense of identity and connection to their roots while adapting to their new environment.
Culturally sensitive mental health services
Access to mental health professionals experienced in helping individuals and families navigate the challenges of acculturation can be vital to immigrant families looking for help with mental health challenges.
However, in some cases, immigrant families may experience barriers to finding such support. For example, they may have trouble finding a professional with experience helping people from their culture. Busy schedules may lead to challenges with scheduling regular therapy sessions. Some families may also assume therapy is too expensive, particularly without insurance. Additionally, some cultures may have heightened stigmas associated with mental health and thus may not be comfortable attending sessions in an office environment.
Prevent mental illness with online therapy
Virtual therapy can be an excellent alternative to traditional care in such cases. Online therapy platforms typically offer access to various mental health professionals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Families can attend sessions from their homes when it fits their schedules, and online therapy is often more affordable than conventional therapy without insurance coverage.
Research supports the notion that online therapy is equally effective as in-person therapy. Both options can serve as valid forms of treatment for a variety of mental health disorders and challenges, including those associated with acculturation.
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