Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Immigrantes – Psychologie'

There has been a rash of divorce among Nigerian Igbo immigrants. This was unheard of several years ago in a community whose culture frowned upon divorce. While some have examined factors affecting divorce, this study investigates those couples who remained married in the whirlwind of the divorce around them.

This phenomenological study reports the lived experience of nine Nigerian Igbo immigrant couples who live in the Houston area metropolis and who have been married for 20 years or more. Data from two clergymen who also live in the Houston metropolitan area and who have ministerial duties for the Nigerian Igbo community were utilized. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed. Giorgi’s psychological phenomenological method (1985) was used to analyze data.

The analysis of the data from participating couples yielded the following 15 essential structures: successful navigation of problems related to extended family, understanding that every marriage is unique with no comparison, mutual trust and understanding, appreciation of the marriage experience, communication, living within ones means, ability to be flexible and dynamic, team work, eliminating interference from others, infidelity, involvement in spiritual and religious activities, seeing marriage as a learning process, finances, raising of children , and acculturation issues. Participating clergy identified these six structures: ability to forgive and to tolerate, preference to go to the priest or religious leader, awareness of unacceptability of divorce, effective management of issues surrounding sex, being constantly aware of the love element in marriage, and managing the over inflated image of a cozy life in the US.

This study’s finding did not differ greatly from other studies on long-term marriages. The results support the conclusion that there may be cross cultural similarity in structural factors fostering marriage longevity. The results did, however, indicate some uniqueness germane to the acculturation of this immigrant population in the areas of extended family, upbringing of children, gender roles, and male patriarchal hegemony. This underscores the need for counselors to consider cultural context when looking at marriage longevity. The Nigerian couples in this study also acknowledged that the above listed structures may have either a positive or negative impact on marriage stability.

This dissertation investigates the mental health needs of the growing Somali population in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota by examining clinicians’ views of the challenges they experience conducting mental health assessments for Somali clients. The research describes the development of a multicultural competence model and recent attempts to improve multicultural competence in assessment and treatment strategies. Specific emphasis is placed on the foundation of current theories supporting diagnoses and treatment issues through a review of current literature on cultural aspects of Somali mental health conceptualization. The researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with eight mental health providers who have worked with Somalis, seeking information for how clinicians handle culturally-specific challenges during the assessment process. Results suggest best practice for assessing Somali clients ought to involve the use of trained full-time interpreters. It is also beneficial for clinicians to be aware of the differences in mental health and illness conceptualization between Somali and Western cultures. Findings show strong support for establishing a trusting triadic relationship with the clinician, client, and interpreter. Using slow-engagement practice, indirect open-ended questions, predicated on previous relationship, will improve rapport and obtain desired information. Results from this study have informed the development of a culturally sensitive diagnostic protocol, providing guidance on how to collect information in a manner that helps ease the Somali client into the assessment process. The culturally sensitive form, described in Appendix F, must be used in conjunction with the education of all parties. This research has implications for those seeking to conduct culturally sensitive assessment and treatment by reducing incongruent cultural practices and promoting culturally competent service for Somalis.

Ethnic identity is a major component of the psychological development and well-being of adolescents and adults. In the United States, immigrants are often tasked with balancing their minority culture and a dominant White American culture. This study used the two-dimensional Racial/Cultural Identity Development (R/CID) Model to illustrate progression toward an integrated ethnic identity, in which individuals identify with and integrate their minority ethnic group and the dominant group. An integrated identity is achieved at the Integrative Awareness status of the R/CID Model. Individuals at this status are found to possess more psychological resources to cope with psychosocial crises as compared to other statuses (i.e., Conformity, Dissonance, Resistance and Immersion, Introspection).

The Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study (CILS) dataset was used to identify three patterns of ethnic identity over ten years, with each pattern capturing varying proximity to an Integrative Awareness status. Participants were all children of immigrants, either 1.5 or second generation immigrants themselves, and had self-identified their ethnic identity at two points over ten years. Each self-identification was categorized as (1) American, (2) Racial/Panethnic, (3) National Origin, or (4) Hyphenated, and was representative of a particular status in the R/CID Model; that is, American was representative of “Conformity,” Racial/Panethnic of “Dissonance,” National Origin of “Resistance and Immersion,” and Hyphenated of “Integrative Awareness.” Next, a participant’s change in self-identification over ten years was labeled as either a change Toward Integrative Awareness (e.g. from American to Hyphenated), a change Away from Integrative Awareness (e.g. Hyphenated to American), or Static (i.e., no change in self-identification). Toward Integrative Awareness, Away from Integrative Awareness, and Static were the three patterns of ethnic identity development.

Direct discriminant analyses were conducted on a group of participants (n = 2,528) from the CILS dataset to test whether discrimination experience, knowledge of native language, self-esteem, level of education, importance of ethnic identity, and family cohesion distinguished between the three patterns of ethnic identity development. Results revealed two discriminant functions, which in combination, significantly differentiated the three patterns. Correlations between the predictors and ethnic identity development patterns for all children of immigrants in the sample were evaluated. Of all the predictors, discrimination experience had the strongest relationship with the ethnic identity development patterns when the entire sample was considered. Children of immigrants who experienced more discrimination across ten years tended to move Toward Integrative Awareness. The contribution of predictors in distinguishing between the three patterns varied by gender in that both discriminant functions significantly differentiated the patterns for women but not for men. There was also variation across generational status with discriminant functions being significant for 1.5 generation immigrants but not for second generation. No such variation was observed among Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and White racial groups. Results provide insight into the normative ethnic identity development of immigrants and suggest a need for more research and theories that highlight the nuanced experiences of female immigrants and 1.5 generation immigrants.

This study brings attention to the growing body of literature examining the role of culture and context in the study of generation-status differences in cross-cultural coping and physical well-being among immigrants to the United State. Prior literature on the unique challenges, stressors, coping strategies, and health outcomes for immigrants provides a basis for hypothesized generation status differences on cross-cultural coping (collectivistic, avoidance, and engagement) and physical well-being (health, safety, and environmental). A sample of 118 male and female first, 1.5, and second-generation immigrants of non-European backgrounds, between the ages of 18 and 35, were recruited from the local community to complete an online questionnaire. Results from the cross-sectional study did not yield support for the hypothesized generational status differences. However, exploratory analyses yielded several significant correlations including a positive relationship between collective coping and the safety dimension of physical well-being. Within-generation exploratory analyses yielded several significant correlations and differences on measures of coping strategies and physical well-being for demographic/contextual factors such as religiosity, age, SES, English fluency, connection to the U.S. culture, education, and ethnicity amongst 1.5 and second-generation immigrants. The empirical investigation of cross-cultural dimensions of coping and physical well-being among immigrants represents a new direction for research. This study also has potential implications for more nuanced understandings of the immigrant paradox, the socioecological perspective of acculturation, collective coping, and inclusion of both objective and subjective experiences of the environment. Implications for theory and practice, methodological limitations, and suggestions for future research are also discussed.

This study was an exploration of factors that impact the perceived quality of life among Russian-speaking immigrants in the United States. Specifically, the study was designed to investigate what type of relationship (if any) exists (direction and strength) between one’s desire to immigrate, sense of having a choice, the accuracy of preimmigration expectations, and quality of life after immigration. This researcher sought to understand whether desire and choice to immigrate and accuracy of one’s expectations about immigration as measured by a survey can significantly predict changes in quality of life as measured by Q-LES-Q-18 (in general and in its facets). This research question was examined using a series of multiple regressions. Post hoc studies included an examination of the relationship between quality of life as measured by participant responses to the Q-LES-Q-18 and subjective happiness, as measured by modified SHS. Posthoc analyses further explored relationships between demographic factors, income, language fluency, relationship status, and other variables with quality of life after immigration. Finally, open-ended questions were used to provide pertinent narrative to help explain the conclusions gathered from quantitative data. The perceived accuracy of expectations about immigration was found to be a major predictor of quality of life after immigration. It had unique, significant contributions to the prediction of physical heath, subjective feelings, leisure time, and general activities aspects of quality of life. Quality of life in all of its aspects was highly connected to ability to use the language (speak, understand, and communicate) of the dominant culture. Income strongly and positively correlated with participants’ subjective feelings, general activity, and life satisfaction.