Cuban Latin Americans: Psychosocial Correlates of Cultural Adjustment
Cuban Latin Americans: Psychosocial Correlates of Cultural Adjustment
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Date
1988
Authors
Sinclair, Elsa A. Rivera
Advisor
Magoon, Thomas M.
Citation
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Abstract
The process of adjustment to a new culture-acculturation--
is considered a crucial factor contributing
to variations of psychological distress and anxiety among
immigrant groups. It is believed that a person's level of
distress during the cultural adaptation process is a
reflection of the interconnection of the psychological and
sociocultural processes of personality functioning.
Behavioral scientists' accounts of the psychological
effects experienced by Latin Americans during the cultural
adjustment process point to maladjustment rather than to
the positive aspects of this cultural phenomenon. To a
lesser degree the literature reveals that acculturation may
have a wholesome effect for some individuals in the long
run. Some evidence, however, suggests that biculturalism
may be a healthy approach to cultural adjustment. The
present study investigated the psychosocial correlates of
biculturalism.
Two-hundred and fifty four male and female Cuban
participants ranging from 18-90 years of age, living in metropolitan Washington, o.c., were administered self-report
questionnaires. This field study examined the role
played in biculturalism (Bicultural Involvement
Questionnaire, BIQ) by age, length of time in the United
States, and gender of the participants. The role played by
presence of a support group, educational level, income
level, ethnic identification, and use of mental health
facilities was also explored. The criterion for level of
adjustment was the participants' anxiety scores (State
Anxiety Scale, SAS). The investigation's assumption is
that biculturalism is related to relatively low anxiety
levels.
A hierarchical Multiple Regression Analysis revealed
that (a) biculturalism and anxiety are related to the
length of time the Cuban participant has been in the United
States, (b) biculturalism is associated with the person's
age, (c) there is a significant and positive linear
relationship between BIQ scores and SAS scores. This means
that if a person continues to remain monoculturally Cuban
while living in a bicultural community, his/her levels of
anxiety will be high. This tested the psychosocial model
of adjustment. However, the test for the curvilinear
relationship was not significant, and (d) the presence of
support group networks, educational level, family income
and ethnic identification are significantly associated
with the process of biculturalism.