Abstract
As societies become more multicultural, citizens need to develop self-regulatory mechanisms in order to successfully cope with the increasing levels of psychosocial stress related to acculturation. In this study, a longitudinal theoretical model was tested in order to evaluate the role of implicit theories of cultural intelligence, causal attributions, perceived social support, and cultural identity as predictors of acculturative stress. The research was carried out in Spain across three consecutive years with a multicultural sample of 292 students (natives and immigrants). The results confirm the proposed theoretical model using multi-group structural equation modelling to test the equivalence of the longitudinal causal structure in immigrants and natives. Moreover, mediation analyses confirmed the mediating effect of cultural identity between the implicit theories of cultural intelligence and acculturative stress, as well as the mediating effect of perceived social support between causal attributions and acculturative stress. The model indicates the relevance of promoting psychosocial interventions with native and immigrant adolescents in intercultural contexts. In those interventions, it will be relevant to promote incremental implicit theories of cultural intelligence and internal causal attributions, as well as to highlight a more intercultural identity and to encourage greater social support networks.
Highlights
We proposed that—in the same way that acculturative stress decreases as individuals adjust to their new cultural environment (e.g. Tartakovsky, 2007; Ying, 2005)—perceived social support would become stronger as the intercultural contact is naturalised and as individuals become more effective within the intercultural relationship processes
Bonferroni analyses showed that cultural identity (p < .05) and acculturative stress (p < .01) levels were significantly higher in immigrants than in natives, and that perceived social support (p < .01) was significantly lower
The results of this study showed that the four independent variables that were analysed form a longitudinal model predictor of acculturative stress available for both natives and immigrants
Summary
In an increasingly multicultural modern society, research on acculturative stress seems to be relevant, considering that acculturative stress is related to multiple negative psychological outcomes such as unhappiness and negative affect (Shin, Han, & Kim, 2007), critical levels of psychological well-being (Cho & Haslam, 2010), anxiety, depressive symptoms, depression (e.g. Mejía & McCarthy, 2010), suicidal ideations (Cho & Haslam, 2010), and suicidality (Lipsicas & Mäkinen, 2010).Based on the Cognitive Affective Personality System theory (CAPS; Mischel & Shoda, 1995; Mendoza-Denton, Ayduk, Mischel, Shoda, & Testa, 2001), we analysed the role of some dispositional and psychosocial variables in predicting acculturative stress over time, as well as the potential relations between those predictors. The CAPS proposes an interactive, dynamic, and meta-theoretical model which conceives of the individual as a complex processing system. This model suggests that the situation and the cognitive, affective, and personality components interact together as a whole, and that this interaction leads individuals to behave in a specific way. It explains how dispositional and self-regulatory mecha- nisms are reciprocal with regard to outcome behaviours: negative personal, emotional, and adaptive mechanisms predict negative outcomes which, in turn, predict negative personal, emotional, and adaptive mechanisms. People are A when the situation is X, but B when the situation is Y (Mendoza-Denton et al, 2001), and the dispositional and self-regulatory mechanisms along with the personality qualities are interconnected mediators which lead indi- viduals to determined behaviours
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
