Title:
West African immigrants: exploring relations between acculturation, acculturative stress and mental health
Author:
David Essien
Thesis Advisor:
Heather Z. Lyons
Committee Member:
Matthew W. Kirkhart
Committee Member:
Adanna J. Johnson-Evans
Committee Member:
Amanda M. Thomas
Degree Granting Institution:
Loyola University Maryland--College of Arts and Sciences
Place:
Baltimore (Md.)
Publisher:
Loyola University Maryland
Date Created:
2016
Type of Resource:
text
Genre:
thesis
Language:
eng
Format:
application/pdf
Physical Form:
electronic
Digital Source:
born digital
Abstract:
The intent of this study was to explore the immigrant paradox using the variables of acculturative stress, mental health symptoms, and acculturation. Specifically, this study sought to investigate whether acculturation to mainstream culture (measured using the Vancouver Index of Acculturation) would moderate the relation between acculturative stress (measured using the SAFE Acculturative Stress Scale) and mental health symptoms (measured using the Mental Health Inventory ' 38). This study also sought to contribute the existing literature on the immigrant paradox using a population with minimal representation: West African immigrants. This investigation included a sample of 84 West African Immigrant participants recruited from West African Organizations, a religious institution database, and the author's personal contacts. Acculturative stress and mental health symptoms were not significantly correlated. Acculturation to mainstream culture and mental health symptoms were also not significantly correlated. Acculturation to mainstream culture was not found to be moderating the relation between acculturative stress and mental health symptoms. Supplemental analysis revealed that heritage culture moderates the relation between the Emotional Ties subscale of the MHI-38 and acculturative stress. Implications of this study are explored specifically the role of biculturalism, religion/spirituality, and social support on immigrant mental health.
Subject:
Electronic dissertations
Degree:
Doctor of Clinical Psychology
Level:
Doctoral
Discipline:
Psychology
Restrictions on Access:
Author has given permission to make this work available online.
Use and Reproduction:
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Identifier:
EssienD-16
