Psychological Adjustment of Asian-Indians as a function of Acculturation Style, Generational Status, and the 'Acculturation Gap'

Miss Kiranpal Sangha (). Psychological Adjustment of Asian-Indians as a function of Acculturation Style, Generational Status, and the 'Acculturation Gap' Professional Doctorate, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland.

       
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Author Miss Kiranpal Sangha
Thesis Title Psychological Adjustment of Asian-Indians as a function of Acculturation Style, Generational Status, and the 'Acculturation Gap'
School, Centre or Institute School of Psychology
Institution The University of Queensland
Thesis type Professional Doctorate
Supervisor Dr Paul Harnett
Total pages 192
Abstract/Summary This study examined the relationship between the acculturation styles of first-generation and second-generation Asian-Indians residing in Australia and their psychological adaptation. An additional purpose of the study was to examine the validity of the ‘acculturation gap-distress hypothesis’ in an Indian population. One hundred and fifty-one Asian-Indians (51 first-generation Indians and 99 second-generation Indians), aged between 16 and 29 years were recruited from universities and Indian organizations using a snowball sampling method. Participants completed a questionnaire measuring acculturation styles, perceived parental acculturation styles, parent-child conflict, depression, anxiety, stress, somatization, alcohol use, and subjective well-being. As expected, the integrated style of acculturation was the most preferred strategy adopted by Indians, followed by the separated acculturation style. Also consistent with expectations, second-generation Asian-Indians were more likely to endorse an integrated style of acculturation compared to first-generation Asian-Indians who were more likely to demonstrate a separated style of acculturation. No significant differences in psychological adaptation were revealed between first- and second-generation Asian-Indians, and furthermore, there were no significant differences in levels of psychological adaptation as a function of acculturation style. However, the results did provide support for the acculturation gap-distress hypothesis, revealing that in those Indian families in which an acculturation gap was present, parent-child conflict was significantly greater, and levels of subjective well-being of second-generation Indians were significantly lower. In addition, higher levels of parent-child conflict were associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, stress and somatization, and lower levels of subjective-well being. The results suggest that an integrated style of acculturation is not necessarily associated with superior psychological outcomes amongst Indians in Australia, as previously claimed by researchers. The findings also highlight the potentially significant role of intergenerational conflict in the psychological adaptation of second-generation Indians residing in Australia.
Keyword acculturation style, psychological adjustment, Asian-Indians, acculturation gap

 
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Created: Sat, 17 Apr 2010, 14:33:17 EST by Miss Kiranpal Sangha