Acculturation and Psychological Adjustment of Vietnamese Refugees: An Ecological Acculturation Framework

Acculturation to the culture of the host society as well as to one’s heritage culture have been shown to impact immigrants’ adjustment during the years following resettlement. While acculturation has been identified as an important factor in adjustment of Vietnamese immigrants (Birman and Tran in Am J Orthopsychiatr 78(1):109–120. doi:10.1037/0002‐9432.78.1.109, 2008 ), no clear pattern of findings has emerged and too few studies have employed an ecological approach. The purpose of this paper is to contextualize the study of acculturation and adjustment by taking an ecological approach to exploring these relationships across several life domains, using a bilinear scale, and examining mediators of these relationships for adult Vietnamese refugees (N = 203) in the United States. We call this approach the Ecological Acculturation Framework (EAF). Results of a structural equation model (SEM) showed that job satisfaction fully mediated the relationship between American acculturation and psychological distress, demonstrating that this relationship was specific to an occupational domain. However, while Vietnamese acculturation predicted co‐ethnic social support satisfaction, it did not predict reduced psychological distress. Implications for a life domains approach, including domain specificity, are discussed.     

Acculturation and Subjective well-being of Chinese Students in Australia

This study examined the relationships of two dimensions (host and co-national identification (HNI and CNI)), four modes (integration, separation, assimilation and marginalization) of acculturation to subjective well-being (SWB) of Chinese students in Australia. One hundred and fifty-seven Chinese overseas students completed a questionnaire including the acculturation index and the assessment of SWB. Analyses revealed that: (a) both strong HNI and CNI predicted enhanced SWB; (b) acculturation styles were also related to SWB and Chinese students who were integrated had significantly stronger SWB than their peers who were assimilated, separated or marginalized (c) there was no significant correlation between negative emotions and HNI or CNI. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Dimensions of Acculturation and Work Hope in International Students

Work hope is an emerging and important factor in the career development process of international students. In this study, the authors focused on the work hope of international students and examined its relation to dimensions of acculturation (i.e., dominant society immersion, ethnic identity, ethnic society immersion, individualism, and collectivism). A total of 340 international students completed an online survey. Results of a correlation analysis revealed associations in the expected directions. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that horizontal collectivism, horizontal individualism, and vertical collectivism had a significant and unique contribution in explaining work hope. Implications and recommendations for future research are discussed.     

文化融入与中国留学生的适应

本研究的目的是探讨两个维度 (主族和客族文化认同 )、四种方式 (整合、分离、同化和边缘 )及其与中国留学生适应的关系。采用一套问卷测验 (包括文化融入指数、社会文化适应问题及主观幸福感等测验量表 )调查了在澳大利亚的 1 57名中国留学生。结果表明在调查的中国留学生中 ,整合者占40 1 % ,分离者占 42 7% ,同化者占 8 3% ,而边缘者占 8 9% ,中国留学生的主族和客族文化认同指标均与心理适应指标有显著的正相关 ;在心理适应方面 ,整合者最好 ,其次为同化者和分离者 ,最差为边缘者。对于留学生出国前的选拔和培训 ,出国后的教育与学习 ,有关部门和学校应重视其文化认同和文化融入方式等因素 ,以便更好地帮助留学生适应新的环境 ,提高留学生教育质量。     

Relationship Between Acculturation and Attitudes Toward Gay Men and Lesbians in the Vietnamese American Community

We examined the impact of acculturation on attitudes toward gay men and lesbians in the Vietnamese American community. We recruited 114 Vietnamese American participants at a large community organization. The Suinn–Lew Asian Self‐Identity Acculturation Scale ( Suinn, 1992 ) was used to measure participants' acculturation levels, while the Attitudes Toward Lesbian and Gay Men Scale ( Herek, 2004 ) was used to measure participants' attitudes toward homosexuality. It was hypothesized that Vietnamese Americans with higher levels of acculturation would have more positive attitudes toward homosexuality. The results supported this hypothesis. Additionally, we found a complicated pattern of results explaining attitudes based on acculturation level, age, and gender.     

A Qualitative Study of the College Social Adjustment of Black Students From Lower Socioeconomic Communities

Superficial gains made by Black students studying in the United States have created the illusion that college access and retention rates have improved. However, to support their education, commuter students from lower socioeconomic communities have developed coping skills that inhibit positive social adjustment. This article presents an examination of Black commuter‐student relationships and associations.     

Attachment, Acculturation and GHQ-30 of Chinese Students in Japan

This study examines how attachment and acculturation are associated with the general mental health of Chinese students in Japan. The participants were 194 Chinese students living in Japan, who were asked to complete a set of self-reported measures. The results showed that attachment anxiety predicted all subscales of general mental health, and attachment avoidance and acculturation predicted some aspects of general mental health. In addition, the number of years of residence in Japan was also found to be associated with the general mental health. The findings help improving intercultural communication between Asian countries as well as to facilitate clinical intervention and prevention.     

Self-Construction and Interpersonal Distances of Juveniles Living in Residential Communities

Within the framework of constructivism, and more specifically personal construct psychology, the current research aims at exploring self-construction and interpersonal relationships of juveniles living in residential communities. It proposes a method of doing so that is coherent with the framework adopted. Repertory grids were used with 59 youths, ages 9 to 20 years, and 176 significant others (father, mother, houseparent, and a teacher or employer); interpersonal distances were measured. Identification with others and an authority, perceived change, self and social acceptance, social negativity, self-fulfillment, commonality, and sociality led to the discrimination of different profiles that indicate different (inter)personal configurations.     

Loneliness and Acculturation Among Adolescents From Immigrant Families in Portugal1

The aims of this study were to find out the degree of loneliness among adolescents with immigrant backgrounds in Portugal and the factors that may predict the level of loneliness among them. The study sample consisted of 313 adolescents. The mean duration of sojourn in Portugal for the sample was 8.2 years (SD= 4.8). They were asked to complete a questionnaire. A control group involving 363 Portuguese youth was also included in the study. There were no significant differences between adolescents from immigrant families and Portuguese adolescents who have never migrated in terms of level of loneliness. The strongest predictors of loneliness were self-esteem, duration of sojourn, and perceived discrimination. Implications of the study for counselors are suggested.     

Acculturation and Attitudes of Asian International Students Toward Seeking Psychological Help

Relationships between acculturation and attitudes toward psychological help seeking were studied with 170 Asian international students. Results showed a significant relationship between levels of acculturation and attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help. Significant correlations were found between students' levels of acculturation and stigma tolerance and confidence in mental health practitioners. La relación entre la aculturación y las actitudes hacia la busqueda de ayuda psicológica se estudió con 170 estudiantes internacionales de orígen asiático. Los resultados demostraron una relación significante entre los niveles de aculturación y las actitudes hacia la solicitación de ayuda psicológica profesional. Correlaciones significantes se encontraron entre los niveles de aculturación y la tolerancia hacia las estigmas de los estudiantes y la confianza que ellos les tienen a los médicos psiquiátricos.     

白马藏族初中学生文化适应和智力水平的关系

从实证的角度探讨了白马藏族初中生的文化适应程度与其智力水平之间的关系,结果表明：自编的文化适应问卷包括的三个维度（主流文化认同、学校教育认同、对教学语言的熟悉和理解程度）与智力、学业成绩均存在显著的相关;在剔除学业成绩对智力的影响后,文化适应对白马藏族初中生的智力水平有显著的预测力。这一结果有助于人们对智力本质的理解,也为发展民族教育、促进民族现代化进程提供了理论依据。     

Attitudes and Experiences of High School Students Living in Turkey

A group of 105 tenth-grade high school students living in Turkey were studied to discover their attitudes toward their host nation and experiences while living away from the United States. It was hypothesized that neither the length of time a student resides in a country nor his sex would have an effect on either the number of experiences related to his host country or his attitude while living in a foreign country. The results indicated that the longer the students live overseas, the more experiences related to the culture of the host country they have. Their attitudes were the same regardless of their sex or length of residence.     

Theorizing the Temporal Aspect of Ikigai or Life Worth Living among Japanese University Students: a Mixed-Methods Approach

Although cross-cultural and non-Western studies have advanced our knowledge on well-being, many studies have adopted English words including ‘happiness’ as their guiding concepts, which may have limited and biased their insight. The current study is part of a larger mixed-methods project that theorizes how Japanese university students pursue ikigai or a life worth living. The first qualitative study, based on 27 photo-elicitation interviews, generated a grounded theory of houkousei, or life directionality. Our qualitative findings suggested that when students formed explicit associations among the past, present, and future, they gained strong ikigai feelings. These associations were developed either cognitively by mentally associating existing present experiences with the past or future, or behaviourally by strategically choosing current experiences more pertinent to the past or future than alternatives. These actions resulted in two subjective states: life legacy and life momentum. Life legacy was the perception that one’s past had meaningfully contributed to his or her present experiences, life, and self. Life momentum meant the belief that one’s present experiences were helping him or her achieve the desired future. Lastly, having defining past experiences and setting clear goals both facilitated the associative actions. To further validate this theory, we collected online survey data from a national sample of 672 Japanese students. Our quantitative results, based on partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), largely supported our theoretical model. Our findings are discussed in light of the ikigai and eudaimonic well-being literatures.

     

Acculturation,Competence, and Mental Health Among South Asian Students in the United States

Among 199 South Asian international students in the United States, higher levels of depressive symptoms were predicted by higher perceived prejudice and lower self‐reported competence in work, personal/social efficacy, and intracultural behaviors. Relationships among the predictors and depressive symptoms differed by gender. Implications for theory, research, and mental health interventions are discussed. Entre 199 estudiantes internacionales Surasiáticos en los Estados Unidos, altos niveles de síntomas depressivos fueron pronosticado por el prejuicio mas percibido y el bajo alto informo de capacidad en el trabajo, en la eficacia personal/social y la funcion intracultural. Las relaciones entre los pronosticadores y los síntomas depressivos diferidos por el género. Las implicaciones para teoría, investigaciones, y las intervenciones mentales de la salud se discuten.     

Gender and Acculturation in Relation to Traditionalism: Perceptions of Self and Parents Among Chinese Students

The acculturation attitudes and traditionalismof Chinese university students in Toronto, Canada, wereinvestigated. Chinese men were significantly moretraditional than Chinese women in their beliefs and expectations regarding family hierarchy and thesocial roles of women and men, but they did not differin perceptions of their parents' construal of familyrelations and gender roles. Generational discrepancy between self and perceived parental values wasfound for Chinese women but not for men in the study,suggesting greater conflict with regard to traditionalgender role and cultural values for women. The acculturation attitude of separation predictedstudents' traditionalism, and marginalization predictedparents' perceived traditionalism. Gender differencesand the relevance of different modes of acculturation with regard to traditionalism are discussed inthis article.     

Influences on Vietnamese Men: Examining Traditional Gender Roles,the Refugee Experience,Acculturation, and Racism in the United States

The authors have attempted to increase counselors' understanding of Vietnamese men in the U.S. by discussing masculine gender role socialization influences from Vietnamese culture, including the ritual of nhâu (a ritual of male bonding through binge drinking). The authors also provided a gendered context to the refugee experience, acculturation issues, and experiences of racism in the U.S. Los autores tratan de aumentar el entendimiento de consejeros de los hombres vietnamitas en Estados Unidos. Hacen esto por medio de una discusión de las influencias de la cultura vietnamita sobre la socialización de los roles de genero masculino, incluyendo el ritual de nhâu (un ritual de crear vinculos entre hombres por medio de emborrachamiento). Los autores también proveen un ámbito del genero para la experiencia de los refugiados, la cuestión de la aculturación, y las experiencias de racismo en Estados Unidos.     

The Neuropsychological Basis of Religions, or Why God Won't Go Away

By the end of the eighteenth century, the intellectual elite generally believed that religion would soon vanish because of the advent of the Higher Criticism and the scientific method. However, two hundred years later, religions and the concept of God have not gone away and, in many instances, appear to be gaining in strength. This paper considers the neuropsychological basis of religion and religious concepts and tries to develop an understanding of why religion does not go away so easily. In general, religion appears to serve two major functions—it is a system of self-maintenance and a system of self-transcendence. Since both of these functions bear directly on human survival and adaptability, the neuropsychological mechanisms that underlie religions appear to have become thoroughly ingrained in the human gene pool and ultimately human experience. This paper reviews these two functions of religions from a neuropsychological perspective to try to explain why religion continues to thrive. Finally, we consider the conclusions regarding reality and epistemology that a neuropsychological analysis of religious experience suggests.     

汉语作为第二语言的越南大学生汉字部件意识的发展*

以226名将汉语作为第二语言的越南大学一到四年级学生为研究对象,以低频独体字、部件熟悉假字和部件不熟悉假字为材料,采用延迟书写任务,考察了不同年级的越南大学生汉字部件意识的发展及其影响因素。结果发现：（1）学习3个月汉语的大一学生能以部件作为汉字加工单元,其延迟书写部件熟悉假字显著好于低频独体字,并与高年级学生没有差异,说明越南大学生很早就发展出了汉字部件意识;（2）不同年级大学生书写部件不熟悉假字的成绩都显著低于部件熟悉假字,也低于低频独体字,表明部件构字能力是越南大学生汉字书写的重要影响因素。（3）越南大一学生的汉字书写成绩受到汉字结构的影响,左右结构优于上下结构,但其他年级的成绩不受汉字结构的影响。