Acculturative Stress, Coping, and Approaches to Working with Refugee Immigrants in the United States

Every year, due to environmental, political or social reasons, a large number of people worldwide are forced to leave their homes and many become refugees. Based on the U.S. Refugee Act of 1980, the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 protocol, some of those who fall into the legal definition of refugees get the chance to be resettled in the United States. During the course of migration, refugees encounter various experiences which contribute to adjustment outcomes in the United States. One of the significant factors involves acculturation and related stress identified as acculturative stress. This exploratory study identified and examined psychosocial factors which contribute to acculturative stress across different groups of refugee immigrants in the United States. Eighteen interviews conducted with participants from five groups of refugee immigrants at various geographical locations in the United States were transcribed and analyzed using a constant comparative method. Demographic characteristics of refugees and the type of acculturative stressor experienced were found to contribute to the type of coping mechanisms used. Psychosocial interventions which are built on cultural sensitivity and empowerment were identified as effective policies towards refugee services in the United States.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Social Work

Year

2011

Author dc:creator

• Uzabakiriho, Adiel

Contributors dc:contributor

• Yacoub, Ignatius
• McCleary, Roseanna
• Schubert, Christiane
• Sorajjakool, Siroj
• Wilson, Colwick

• Social Policy
• Refugees -- United States; Delivery of Health Care -- United States; Assimilation (sociology); Immigrants -- United States; Culture Shock; Intercultural Communication
• Immigrants
• Refugees
• Refugee Experience
• Culture Shock
• Acculturative Stress

Statement dc:rights

• This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/68

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsrepository.llu.edu:etd-1067