The ABCs of Acculturation

1
The ABCs of Acculturation

• PSYC 338

2
Acculturationrefers to the changes that result
from continuous first hand intercultural contact
3
ABCs OF ACCULTURATION
Affect - Stress and Coping Behaviour- Culture
Learning Cognition- Social Identification
4
(No Transcript)
5
Stress and Coping Model of Acculturation
GROUP LEVEL VARIABLES
INDIVIDUAL LEVEL VARIABLES
MODERATING FACTORS PRIOR T0 ACCULTURATION Age,
Gender, Education, Pre-acculturation Status,
Migration Motivation, Expectations Cultural
Distance (Language, Religion, etc.) Personality
(Locus of control, Flexibility)
SOCIETY OF ORIGIN Political Context Economic
Situation Demographic Factors
GROUP ACCULTURATION Physical Biological Economic S
ocial Cultural
Acculturation Experience Life Events
Appraisal of Experience Stressors
Strategies Used Coping
Immediate Effects Stress
Long Term Outcomes Adaptation A
SOCIETY OF SETTLEMENT Attitudes MC
Ideology Ethnic Attitudes Social Support Larger
Society Ethnic Society
MODERATING FACTORS DURING ACCULTURATION Phase
(length of time) Acculturation Strategies
Attitudes Behaviours Coping Strategies
Resources Social Support Societal Attitudes
Prejudice Discrimination
6
PREDICTORS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ADAPTATION

• Life events
• Stress appraisal
• Expectations and experiences
• Level of stress
• Coping styles
• Personality
• Social Support and intercultural relations

7
Life Events- Acculturation Experience

• Social Readjustment Rating Questionnaire
• (Holmes Rahe)
• New line of work
• Change in residence
• Change in living conditions
• Change in social activities

8
Appraisal
Expectations and Experiences of Asian Students in
New Zealand
Expectations ( N 150) Expectations ( N 150) Experiences (N 67)
Be able to understand New Zealand English Be able to understand New Zealand English 80 57
Be able to express myself effectively in English Be able to express myself effectively in English 77 40
Get good grades Get good grades 87 28
9
Expectations and Experiences of Asian Students in
New Zealand
Expectations Experiences
Form friendships with New Zealanders 91 41
Enjoy socialising with New Zealanders 82 52
Understand New Zealand social customs 82 34
Be accepted by New Zealanders 72 37

10
Expectations and Experiences of Asian Students in
New Zealand


Expectations Experiences
Maintain a positive outlook 88 69
Feel stressed 31 49
Have enough money 62 51
Have no problems with my living arrangements or accommodation 59 70
11
Expectations and Experiences of Asian Students in
New Zealand


Expectations Experiences
Maintain a positive outlook 88 69
Feel stressed 31 49
Have enough money 62 51
Have no problems with my living arrangements or accommodation 59 70
12

• Students whose expectations are undermet
• experience more depression and
• more social adaptation difficulties
• during the first six months of study in New
  Zealand

13
Appraisal
Stressful Academic Experiences
Asians (N 44) Europeans (N 46)
Didnt understand assignment or lecture 73 24
Didnt know how to complete assignment 68 30
Didnt know what was expected of me in class 56 43
Worse mark than expected 51 20
14
Stressful Academic Experiences
Asians Europeans
Could not keep up with school work 46 4
Did not get help needed from tutor 39 4
Unable to work well with classmates 24 2
Treated unfairly by teacher 17 7
15
Coping Strategies Approach (planning,
active coping)
Avoidance (denial, venting) Primary (direct,
task oriented) Secondary (cognitive reframing)
16
Personality Big Five Neuroticism
Extraversion
Openness
Conscientiousness
AgreeablenessOthers Locus of control
17
PERSONALITY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
Factor Depression Depression
Factor Singapore Australia
Neuroticism .49 .59
Extraversion -.24 -.21
Openness -.06 -.09
Agreeableness -.29 -.22
Conscientiousness -.36 -.29
18
PERCEIVED AVAILABILTY OF SOCIAL SUPPORT Who
agreed one or more persons would do this for me
(N 280)
Staff Co-nats NZers
Give assistance with communication or language problems 89 80 62
Help you deal with rules and regs 91 75 77
Provide information to help you in your new settings 90 76 81
19
PERCEIVED AVAILABILITY OF SOCIAL SUPPORT
Staff Co-nats NZers
Tell you about available choices and options 90 71 75
Show you how to do something that you didnt know how to do 83 82 80
20
PERCEIVED AVAILABILITY OF SOCIAL SUPPORT
Staff Co-nats NZers
Listen and talk with you when you feel lonely or depressed 64 85 62
Share your good times and bad 42 81 67
Comfort you when you feel homesick 42 78 55
Accompany you to do things 42 85 66
21
(No Transcript)
22

• Greater perceived availability of social support
  is associated
• greater psychological well-being and
• better social adaptation
• in international students

23
? ---- Desired amount of contact? ---- Actual
amount of contactASIAN STUDENTS (N 114)WITH
CO-NATIONALSAcademic activities(e.g.,
Studying)--------------------------------------
-------------------------------Never
? ?
Often-------------------------------------------
-------------------------- Social or
recreational activities(e.g., spending time with
friendsclubs, sports, eating out)-------------
--------------------------------------------------
------ Never
??
Often----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
24
---- Desired amount of contact? ---- Actual
amount of contactASIAN STUDENTSWITH NEW
ZEALANDERSAcademic activities(e.g.,
Studying)--------------------------------------
-------------------------------Never

? ?
Often-------------------------------------------
-------------------------- Social or
recreational activities(e.g., spending time with
friendsclubs, sports, eating out)-------------
--------------------------------------------------
------Never
? ?
Often----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
25
EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN STUDENTS
(N 66)?---- Desired amount of contact? ----
Actual amount of contactWITH CO-NATIONALSAcadem
ic activities(e.g., Studying)-----------------
--------------------------------------------------
-- Never
??
Often ------------------------------
--------------------------------------- Social
or recreational activities(e.g., spending time
with friendsclubs, sports, eating
out)-------------------------------------------
--------------------------Never
?
? Often-------------------
--------------------------------------------------

26
EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN STUDENTS
(N 66)?---- Desired amount of contact? ----
Actual amount of contactWITH NEW
ZEALANDERSAcademic activities(e.g.,
Studying)--------------------------------------
-------------------------------Never

??
Often-------------------------------------------
-------------------------- Social or
recreational activities(e.g., spending time with
friendsclubs, sports, eating out)-------------
--------------------------------------------------
--------Never
?
? Often-----------------------------------
------------------------------- ----

27
Contact with New Zealanders 0 -------
European students x ------- Asian Students
Equal Status o x o x Unequal Status
Involuntary x o Voluntary
Superficial x o Intimate
Pleasant o x Unpleasant
Cooperative o x Competitive
28

• More contact with host national students is
  associated with
• better psychological adjustment
• better social adaptation
• better academic performance
• more satisfying relations with host nationals
• less perceived discrimination

29

CULTURAL
FACTORS Cultural Distance
Acculturation Category Acculturation
Strategy
30
PSYCHOLOGICAL ADAPTATION OVER TIME
31
Important Factors

• Accurate expectations
• Stress appraisal
• Coping styles
• Adequate language ability
• Access to informational and emotional support
• Frequent and satisfying interactions with NZ
  students

32
APPLICATIONS Selection
Ensuring realistic
expectations Fostering equal status
intercultural contact
Ensuring social support networks Counseling
and coping styles