The interactive nature of acculturation: perceived discrimination, acculturation attitudes and stress among young ethnic repatriates in Finland, Israel and Germany

Abstract

This study focused on young ethnic repatriates from the former Soviet Union in Finland ( N=170), Germany ( N=102) and Israel ( N=298). We studied whether the acculturation orientations of the repatriates and the hosts (Finland: N=343, Germany: N=342, Israel: N=213) were concordant or discordant (Bourhis et al., 1997). The resulting intergroup relations with concomitant psychological outcomes (perceived discrimination and acculturative stress) were predicted on the basis of Berry's (1997) four-fold acculturation model and on the basis of a new classification, the need for which derived from the assumed normative quality of the integration option and the subsequent possible response tendency favoring integration among both hosts and immigrants. Integration was the most preferred option among the immigrants when using Berry's original model. Accordingly, the acculturation profiles of hosts and immigrants appeared to be concordant in Israel and Germany, and discordant only in Finland, where most of the hosts preferred assimilation. However, when all respondents favoring integration were sub-classified according to their second preference, the profiles turned out to be discordant and the intergroup relations conflictual in all three countries. Supporting the predictions made on the basis of the new classification, those immigrants whose personal acculturation preferences were most in conflict with those of the hosts (separatists in Finland and Israel, assimilationists in Germany) either perceived more discrimination or reported more stress than other immigrants. The results are discussed in relation to the specific features of the acculturation of repatriates.