Christian Faith in the Immigration and Acculturation Experiences of Filipino American Youth

M Gayle Gabriel

doi:10.5195/jyd.2019.710

Abstract

The Filipino immigration experience began in the Philippines via American-modeled schools and Spanish-enforced Christian Catholicism. However, that may not be the case for Filipino youth. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of Christian faith in the immigration and acculturation of Filipino American youth. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 5 Filipino American emerging adults between the ages of 18 and 30 years old. Interview data went through 3 levels of coding and themes; several themes were developed. Results show that Christian faith was a powerful factor in acculturation experiences for Filipino American youth. The modeling of faith was pivotal in helping them navigate through difficult childhood experiences and in some cases mental health problems. Modeling of faith also largely determined participants’ own commitment to religious practices, such as attending daily mass or becoming part of a church organization. At a community level, Christian faith helped participants to establish community ties, which helped ease their transition into mainstream American culture. Based on the results of this study, Christian faith is an important coping factor for Filipino American youth. Christian faith allowed participants to feel a greater sense of connection to each other and to make connections with others in the United States. Christian faith shaped participants’ outlook on their lives and their day-to-day activities.

Highlights

The concept of acculturation has become widely used and often talked about across many fields of study, especially in the last 20 years
A case design such as this provides multiple perspectives to an issue and adds depth and clarity to the issue being investigated (Baxter & Jack, 2008). This was appropriate for this study as the goal was to gain a deeper understanding of how Christian faith is operationalized in the immigration and acculturation experiences of Filipino American youth
This study investigated the ways Christian faith influenced the immigration and acculturation experiences of Filipino American youth

Summary

Introduction

The concept of acculturation has become widely used and often talked about across many fields of study, especially in the last 20 years. The term acculturation gained ground in the 1930s with Those phenomena which result when groups of individuals having different cultures come into continuous first-hand contact, with subsequent changes in the original cultural patterns of either or both groups” (p.149). This suggests that acculturation is an inconsistent process and not uniform across groups that have contact with each other. Researchers have undertaken the inquiry into how acculturation affects different ethnic groups physically, mentally, and emotionally in the fields of sociology, public health, psychology, health education, medicine, and many others

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