Premigration Expectations and Postmigration Experiences of Hispanic Immigrants to the United States
Year: 2007
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a discrepancy existed between the premigration expectations and postmigration experiences of Hispanic immigrants with regard to their quality of life in the United States in communication, social, economic, and educational domains, and whether the discrepancy is correlated with acculturative stress. Acculturative stress refers to the stress that is related to the demands and pressure to adapt to a new culture. Indicators of acculturative stress include feelings of isolation due to inadequate social resources, apprehension at having to adapt to a new environment, angst over an inability to communicate in English, and worry over limited financial resources (Hovey, 1999). The current study analyzed data collected from a sample of 61 foreign-born individuals of Latin ancestry who came to the United States as an adult and have lived here for less than five (5) years. The findings indicate that violated expectations are correlated with acculturative stress more so than demographic variables, personality constructs and common sources of stress. Additionally, discrepancies between premigration expectations and postmigration experiences were found to be better predictors of acculturative stress than postmigration experiences alone.
Author: Shari Schwartz
Language: English
Topic: Migration, Health and Trauma
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2623823355