Psychological adaptation of adolescents with immigrant backgrounds

J Soc Psychol. 2000 Feb;140(1):5-25. doi: 10.1080/00224540009600442.

Abstract

In the present study, the author examined 3 theoretical perspectives--family values, acculturation strategies, and social group identity--as predictors of the psychological well-being of adolescents from immigrant backgrounds. The 3 perspectives share the view that immigrants' successful adaptation involves the balancing of their heritage culture and the culture of the society of settlement. The participants were 506 adolescents from 4 backgrounds--Vietnamese, Pakistani, Turkish, and Chilean--who were living in Norway. The 3 theoretical perspectives together accounted for between 12% and 22% of the explained variance of mental health, life satisfaction, and self-esteem. The predictive powers of the different perspectives, however, were dependent on which outcome was predicted. On the whole, social group identity showed the strongest predictive power.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acculturation
  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior / psychology*
  • Emigration and Immigration*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Norway