Major and Classification
Majoring in Health and Human Sciences and Public Health
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Daniel Soto – Keck School of Medicine at the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
Department
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
Research Gateway Project
Acculturative Stress and Identity Exploration: The Psychological Impact of Cultural Transition within the Mexican American Community
Project Abstract
Upon the transition to an unfamiliar environment replete with vast differences in day-to-day living as well as a shift in social interactions, the abrupt merge of cultures is one that results in individual as well as group-level psychological changes. Acculturation stands as a pivotal point of intersection in which individuals investigate their own identities, behaviors, and values as they assimilate to a new environment. Specifically, within the Mexican American community, this concept unfolds as a complex process that is shaped by values of familialism, cultural collectivism, and even a shift in socioeconomic circumstances from their country of origin. These hardships, among others, can lead to acculturative stress, a tension that is associated with the integration of a new host environment and provoke increased self-reported sentiments of anxiety, worry, or depression. The current study investigated the individual perspective of Mexican American adults (>30 y.o) and how acculturative stress impacted their transition to the United States both in their daily tasks and inner family dynamics through a series of focus groups in Houston, Texas. Findings demonstrate that amongst some Mexican American immigrants, acculturative stress is attributed to the adaptation to an individualistic society heavily influenced by a language barrier. These findings highlight a deeper understanding of the protective factors associated with Mexican cultural values in response to alleviating acculturative stress.