Abstract
The process of identity formation is complex for many; however, for immigrant populations experiencing acculturation and acculturative stress, the process may be particularly difficult. The current study examined the impact of immigration, acculturation, social support, and acculturative stress on identity formation and identity distress during the added stress of COVID-19. Late-adolescent college students from large enrollment psychology courses completed an anonymous online survey battery for course credit (N = 462). Results indicate that identity distress was higher among first-generation immigrants than second- and third-generation; however, it was highest for those with mixed parentage (one immigrant and one native-born parent). Further, acculturative stress and COVID-19 anxiety better predicted identity distress than identity development factors alone, and acculturative stress appeared to mediate the relationship between social support and identity distress. This study highlights the need for additional resources for immigrant students, especially during the current pandemic.
Highlights
As Ndengeyingoma and colleagues (2014) predicted, it appears that personal, environmental, and interpersonal characteristics could be some of the main factors impacting the level of identity distress immigrants are experiencing in regard to their acculturation and acculturative stress [7]
Other barriers immigrants face that may impact identity development, and may influence levels of acculturative stress and identity distress, include those described by Tummala-Narra and Sathasivam-Rueckert (2016), such as language barriers [10]
The current study found that acculturative stress predicted identity distress
Summary
According to the Pew Research Center, in 2017 13.7% of the American population were first-generation immigrants and 12% were second-generation immigrants [1]. Budiman and colleagues (2020) reported that 13.7% of the United States population is made up of immigrants (roughly 44.8 million people) [1]. As of 2018, 13.7% of the United States’ population is either a first-generation immigrant or has at least one parent who was born in a foreign country. There appears to be an increase in immigration and immigrant adolescents [2]. Immigration and acculturation among adolescents are nuanced research topics that have received growing attention in scientific literature. Less research has focused on immigration status and acculturation, and their relationship with identity formation and identity distress
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