Explain one study of acculturation

Question 1

theory

Answer 1

Acculturation is the process by which individuals adopt the cultural traits or social patterns of another group, often occurring when people move to a new cultural environment. It involves adapting to a new culture while maintaining aspects of the original culture. Acculturation can impact behaviors, attitudes, and identity, and researchers often study the factors that influence how successfully individuals adjust to a new culture.

Question 2

Aim

Answer 2

Lueck and Wilson (2010) conducted a study which aimed to investigate the factors that affect acculturative stress among Asian Americans and Asian immigrants in the United States.

Question 3

procedure

Answer 3

The sample consisted of 2095 Asian Americans, both immigrants and US-born, from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds. The participants completed surveys measuring acculturative stress, language proficiency, discrimination, social networks, and family cohesion. The aim was to identify which factors predicted higher or lower levels of acculturative stress. Results showed that bilingual individuals who were comfortable using both their native language and English reported less acculturative stress. Additionally, experiences of discrimination significantly increased stress levels, while strong family cohesion and positive social networks helped reduce stress. The study highlighted that acculturation is influenced by multiple interacting factors, such as language, social support, and discrimination.

Question 4

link

Answer 4

This study illustrates the complex process of acculturation by showing how individuals’ ability to adapt to a new culture depends on both personal and social factors. Lueck and Wilson’s findings support the theory of acculturation by demonstrating that language proficiency and social support systems play a key role in reducing stress during cultural adjustment, while discrimination can hinder successful acculturation. Their research emphasizes that acculturation is not a simple, uniform process but is affected by various cultural and environmental influences.