Acculturation Strategies Research Articles

Achieving internal legitimacy and job satisfaction in UK and US multinational corporation subsidiaries in Nigeria: Do acculturation strategies matter?

The ever-increasing organizations’ quest for multinational investments despite cross-border tensions and cultural diversity in the international business environment necessitates acculturation research. This research aims to determine the nature of acculturation strategies adopted among local workers in UK and US MNCs’ subsidiaries in Nigeria and how the acculturation strategies relate to internal legitimacy and job satisfaction among the workers. Utilizing a quantitative research design, the study uses a structured questionnaire to draw data from 454 Nigerians working in UK and US multinational corporations’ subsidiaries in Nigeria. The research finds that Nigerian workers in UK and US MNCs’ subsidiaries in Nigeria predominantly adopt the integrated acculturation strategy. The study further finds that the integration strategy significantly results in internal legitimacy and job satisfaction among the local workers. Contrary to expectations, assimilation, separation, and marginalization acculturation strategies insignificantly relate to internal legitimacy and job satisfaction. We highlighted the acculturation strategy the UK and US MNC subsidiaries in Nigeria can use to achieve internal legitimacy and job satisfaction among local employees.

Acculturation and adjustment among international college students: The moderating role of perceived second language proficiency

Objectives: This study was aimed at examining the relationship between acculturation strategies and both psychological and socio-cultural adjustment, while concurrently assessing the moderating role of perceived second language proficiency. The premise was that proficiency in the host country’s language could potentially facilitate successful acculturative outcomes. Method: We used self-report measures to collect data on a sample of 237 international students in Los Angeles. A General Linear Model was applied for data analyses. Results: Overall, integration emerged as the most adaptive acculturation strategy, whereas marginalization was identified as the least adaptive. Noteworthy, moderating effects were observed in the relationships between marginalization and life satisfaction, integration and socio-cultural adjustment, assimilation and psychological problems, as well as socio-cultural adjustment. Conclusions: Our findings lend support to the Integration Hypothesis, highlighting that adopting integration is associated with superior adaptive outcomes, also pointing out that the pattern of associations between acculturation strategies and both psychological and socio-cultural adjustment could fluctuate depending on the level of perceived second language proficiency.

Jewish Women, Native-Born and Migrants, in Brussels: Social Integration, “Bubbles” and Acculturation

The purpose of this study is to compare two groups of Jewish women, native-born and migrants, who reside in Brussels regarding their social integration into native-born Jewish and non-Jewish communities and the acculturation strategies they employ. It seems that Brussels is not as socially and culturally open, as perceived by the interviewees. Hence, the social networks of women in our study, as well as their acculturation patterns, differ in degree of separation between native-born Jewish women, non-Israeli immigrants and Israeli immigrants. The former maintain social networks characterized by fluid boundaries between them and the majority society, whereas non-Israeli immigrants are characterized by shared, not very dense networks with the native-born Jewish community and diasporic networks. Finally, Israeli women are characterized by almost completely closed social networks, which can be defined as a distinct “Israeli bubble.” As for their acculturation strategies, native-born women are those who are more integrated among non-Jews and native-born Jews, as expected from their familiarity with the culture and their long-term interactions, despite being partially marginalized as minority. Migrant women are less integrated and more separated from both native-born Jews and – to a larger extent – from non-Jews; so are Israelis. Social networks which gradually become communities are mainly created by women and maintained by them over the years. Therefore, the study of social networks, their structure and construction through daily interactions, and their contribution to the ethnic-diasporic community building have become the source of women’s strength in the host country – as immigrants and as a native-born minority group.

Acculturation strategies and psychological adaptation of two generations of the same ethnic minority group in different sociopolitical contexts

This study examines the acculturation strategies and adaptation outcomes of two generations of the Russian ethnic minority in two post-Soviet republics, Estonia and Kyrgyzstan. Theoretical analysis suggests two possible alternative strategies of adaptation, namely integration and assimilation. These are based on their preferred way of acculturating and on the social capital (bridging and bonding) that they have accumulated. We expected that the preferred way of acculturating would depend on some contextual characteristics, such as cultural distance and the state policy towards the ethnic minority. In each of the two countries, the members of two generations of Russians were surveyed, including adults who were socialized during Soviet time and those whose socialization occurred after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The total sample (N = 687) included the following four subsamples: Estonian adult Russians (N = 234); Estonian young Russians (N = 152); Kyrgyz adult Russians (N = 150); and Kyrgyz young Russians (N = 150). The results allow us to conclude that in a cultural context that is culturally similar and with a restrictive sociopolitical climate (Estonia), the adaptation of an ethnic minority generation-to-generation changes from the strategy of assimilation to integration. In a context characterized by a larger cultural distance, and a more inclusive sociopolitical climate (Kyrgyzstan), the adaptation of an ethnic minority generation-to-generation goes in the opposite direction: from the older generation's attempts to integrate towards assimilation among the younger generation. However, both strategies lead to similar outcomes in terms of their level of psychological adaptation.

Cross-cultural arbitrage through acculturation: the opportunity lens of transnational entrepreneurs

PurposeThis study aims to integrate entrepreneurship theories and acculturation perspectives into a unified lens to understand opportunity development by transnational entrepreneurs (TNEs).Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a conceptual method, considering how acculturation strategies of TNEs influence cross-cultural arbitrage.FindingsWe develop six propositions that define how acculturation strategies relate to different levels of cultural embeddedness of transnational entrepreneurs and ultimately influence the process by which the entrepreneur engages in cross-cultural arbitrage.Originality/valueWe are one of the first to integrate the sociology of immigrants with entrepreneurship to better understand how TNEs engage in cross-cultural arbitrage.

Understanding Acculturation Strategies Through Intergroup Social Interaction: A Case Study of Thai Workers in Japan

Most studies of Thai workers in Japan are oriented towards low-skilled groups of workers. Unlike low-skilled workers, highly skilled migrant workers experience intense social interaction with Japanese colleagues, resulting in dynamics and degrees of intergroup relationships and acculturation process. This article therefore identifies acculturation strategies dominant among highly skilled Thai workers in Japanese working societies through the lens of intergroup contacts. It also explores the intergroup social interactions between Thai and Japanese people in workplaces and uncovers the effects of intergroup contact on the acculturation process. Narratives from interviews with 12 highly skilled Thai workers led to three findings. First, integration is predominantly identified as the most advantageous acculturation strategy. Second, positive intergroup social contact prevails on the condition that Thai workers strictly follow the norms and values in the workplaces, particularly behaviors which demonstrate a sense of selflessness. Finally, positive social contact between highly skilled Thai workers and Japanese people facilitates the integration process of highly skilled Thai workers. Based on the findings, some implications are discussed.

It’s more than just food: the role of food among Chinese international students’ acculturation experiences in the UK and USA

ABSTRACT Food is an indispensable element in every culture. However, it is often regarded as trivial, mundane, and inconspicuous in daily life and, in turn, its role has often been overlooked in intercultural research. Through the lens of food culture, this paper draws insights from three independent yet related studies which investigated Chinese international students’ acculturation experiences in the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (USA). Semi-structured individual interviews analyzed thematically were conducted with 23 participants in the UK and 29 participants in the USA. By applying the concepts of “invisible learning” and “unconscious competence” to food in Chinese international students’ acculturation experiences, we highlight the crucial hidden learning and engagement opportunities to enrich the current appreciation of student sojourners’ acculturation experiences. Findings in this paper suggest that food serves as a meaningful invisible or unconscious but powerful acculturation pathway in the personal, psychological, and social domains, which support these learners’ acculturation experiences and facilitate their competence development in new cultural environments. Arguably, understanding this nuanced dimension could better assist student sojourners in developing more effective acculturative strategies, and for host universities or other stakeholders to better support international students with more diverse opportunities and resources.

The Influence of Motivation, Perceived Discrimination, Acculturation Strategies, and Adaptation on Destination Loyalty

Destination loyalty in education tourism can be characterized by tourists’ intention to revisit and their recommendations of the place to others, serving as primary indicators. However, even though there is growing interest among academia and industry players in the concept of destination loyalty, our comprehension of the psychological factors influencing destination loyalty intention remains inadequate. Existing literature has not yet addressed the topic of education tourism in Norway. Therefore, this research explores the attributes of destination loyalty and the influence of perceived discrimination, acculturation strategies, psychological and sociocultural adaptation in elucidating international students' intention to exhibit loyalty in Norway. The theoretical framework draws on motivation theory (Crompton, 1979), acculturation theory (Berry, 1990; Berry, 1997), adaptation (Searle & Ward, 1990), and loyalty theory (Backman & Crompton, 1991), which have been adapted to include perceived discrimination as an additional exploratory variable. This study extends previous research on destination loyalty by investigating the impact of acculturation strategies on enhancing the relationship between travel-related attributes and loyalty. The study utilizes partial least squares (PLS) to examine the links between the variables. Based on a questionnaire survey of international students in Norway, the findings indicate that psychological adaptation and acculturation strategies have a positive impact on loyalty. The coefficient of determination (R2) reveals that the final structural model can account for 34% of the variance in international students’ loyalty behavior. These results highlight the importance for stakeholders in the education tourism industry to recognize the influence of acculturation strategies and psychological adaptation on travel loyalty. Understanding these factors can contribute to enhancing destination competitiveness in education tourism and ensuring its long-term sustainability. The study concludes by acknowledging its limitations and encouraging further research in this area.

Research on Acculturation Strategies in Intercultural Education: Challenges and Opportunities

Cross-cultural education is becoming increasingly important in today s globalized society. As people move across borders, inter-national exchanges and global educational cooperation increase, it is essential to develop students ability to adapt and integrate in different cultural contexts. This thesis aims to explore acculturation strategies in intercultural education and explore the challenges and opportunities of these strategies. Through literature review and empirical research analysis, this paper aims to provide recommendations and guidance to edu-cation practitioners and researchers on how to better help students adapt in cross-cultural environments.

Social judgement and approval of Burkinabè immigrants by their peers in the country of origin: The role of separation acculturation strategy

AbstractThe aim of this research was to examine how Burkinabè who emigrated to France are evaluated and approved by their peers in their country of origin (N = 266), depending on the congruency between their acculturation strategies and those preferred by participants. Participants read one of two fictional portraits about a Burkinabè who emigrated to France and who was presented either as having adopted the French culture (assimilation) or as having maintained his original culture (separation). In line with our hypothesis, the target was rated as more moral in the separation condition. In addition, participants who preferred the separation strategy approved more the target who chose the same strategy. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.

Adapting for Well-Being: Examining Acculturation Strategies and Mental Health among Latina Immigrants

This study investigates how assimilation and integration, two commonly studied acculturation forms, help immigrant Latinas cope with acculturative stress and related psychological distress. It employs the Ecological Framework for Understanding Immigration (EFUI), merging Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory and the Socioecological Model as a comprehensive approach. Through multigroup analysis, various factors significantly affect the psychological distress of immigrant Latinas, including financial constraints, contentment with migration decisions, age, and adherence to familial values. Acculturative stress relates to English proficiency, racial discrimination experiences, U.S. residency duration, and contentment with the migration choice. The moderating effects of assimilation and integration vary, influencing psychological distress and acculturative stress differently in each group. In conclusion, this study uncovers complex coping mechanisms used by immigrant Latina individuals facing acculturative stress and highlights the protective role of assimilation, the importance of familismo, the impact of financial constraints, and the significance of racial discrimination. This finding underscores the need for mental health interventions to respect and incorporate Latinx individuals’ cultural values and beliefs, promoting positive mental health outcomes.

Взаимосвязь ценностных оснований, личностных особенностей и характеристик идентичности иностранных студентов в условиях поликультурной образовательной среды

Integration processes have a positive impact on the integration practices of foreign students in a multicultural community. Reducing the risks of interethnic conflict and intolerance is relevant to the task of studying the con-ditions, factors influencing the formation of multicultural identification, and positive adaptation strategies for foreign students in the host community. The article presents the results of an empirical study of value bases of foreign students’ identity in a multicultural educational environment. The structure, content, and styles of identity are studied on a sample of students from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The personal characteristics of foreign students influencing adaptation and predicting the experience of identity crisis were considered. The reliability of the results obtained was ensured by mathematical and statistical research methods. The internal determina-tion of identity through individual values, group value orientations, adaptive and compensatory abilities aimed at overcoming the identity crisis, motives for affiliation, and acculturation strategies has been proven.

귀국 직장인의 민족정체성과 심리사회적 적응의 관계

Objectives The aim of this study was to examine the moderated mediating effect of the acculturation strategy on the relationship with the impact of changed ethnic identity on reverse cultural shock and psychological social adaption to adults who returned to work after living abroad.
 Methods The survey was conducted between February 22 and March 27, 2020 on 202 adults who returned to Korea and are working after living abroad for at least 3 years, and collected data that did not consent to the collec-tion and use of personal information, excluding those, 199 copies were used as final analysis data. The mediation effect, the moderation effect and the moderated mediating effect were analyzed through SPSS 25.0 and SPSS Macro.
 Results The results were as follows; The reverse culture shock was significant on the relationship between the ethnic identity and psychological social adaption. Also the moderation effect of assimilation and separation strat-egies was verified on the relationship between reverse cultural shock and psychological social adaption even though there was a limitation in investigating the moderated mediating effect of the integration strategy, which is a sub-strategies of acculturation strategy due to the reliability problem. Lastly, assimilation and separation strategies moderated the mediating effect of reverse cultural shock between internalized ethnic identity and psy-chological social adaption.
 Conclusions These findings showed the impact of ethnic identity and reverse cultural shock on psychological so-cial adaptation, and high level of assimilation and low level of separation strategies were expected to be risks for psychological social adaptation. Finally, the implications and limitations of this study were discussed.

“The Culture” Is Truly the Issue: A Preliminary Exploration of Active Duty Female Spouses’ Acculturation to Military Life

Acculturating to the Active Duty military lifestyle can be challenging yet rewarding. Using acculturation theory as a lens, this qualitative study explored experiences of women who transitioned into Active Duty culture through marrying a male service member. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected via online survey from women married to men currently or recently serving on Active Duty. In total, 202 survey responses were received, with 194 providing qualitative data. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Three themes were identified: descriptions of military culture, acculturation strategies, and processes involved with acculturation. Limitations include the cross-sectional and preliminary nature of the data. Findings can inform culturally responsive practice at all levels and indicate this is a fruitful area for further study.

Acculturation orientation and expectation: mapping the labour migration processes of Cham youth in Cambodia

ABSTRACT In multi-ethnic societies, different cultures interact with each other, and communities often have to consider acculturation strategies. These strategies are fluid and develop across geographical boundaries while intersecting with cultural diversity. A host society’s stance toward migrants and governmental migration policies significantly influence these strategies. This dynamic is evident in the case for Cambodia’s ethnic Cham youth, who are Muslims in a predominantly Buddhist Khmer society. Chamic ethnicities are found widely in South East Asia, including in Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia, so their transnational connections and experiences are worth investigating in detail. This article draws on discourses on acculturation orientation and expectation to delve into Cham youth’s acculturation, particularly exploring the factors shaping their labour migration patterns. Based on fieldwork conducted in Cham villages in the Tbong Khmum Province of Cambodia, this research introduces a conceptual model highlighting ineffective enculturation and differential acculturation among Cham migrant workers. The findings enrich academic knowledge of acculturation orientation and expectation as well as labour migration patterns.

Predictors of International Students' Acculturation Strategies in the United States: Applying Acculturation Intentions Model

Predictors of International Students' Acculturation Strategies in the United States: Applying Acculturation Intentions Model

Predictors of International Students' Acculturation Strategies in the United States: Applying Acculturation Intentions Model

Predictors of International Students' Acculturation Strategies in the United States: Applying Acculturation Intentions Model

Контекстуальные и индивидуально-личностные предикторы адаптации русских в Эстонии и Кыргызстане

Background. Acculturation strategy choice and success of adaptation to new cultural environment depend both on individual characteristics of participants of intercultural interaction and on characteristics of the context. In this regard, it is important to apply an integrated approach to study the mutual contribution of contextual and individual-personal predictors of acculturation. Objective. The study aims at identifying complex contextual and individual-personal predictors of adaptation of Russians in Estonia and Kyrgyzstan, and revealing relationship between these complex predictors, acculturation strategies, and psychological well-being of Russians in these republics. Study Participants. The sample consisted of 302 Russians in Estonia (Mage = 37.51; SD = 16.55; 52% females) and 300 Russians in Kyrgyzstan (Mage = 35.56; SD = 17.40; 64,8% females). Methods. We used scales from the MIRIPS questionnaire, instruments for measuring identities and intercultural attitudes developed in CSCR of HSE, and local identity scale by O. Droseltis and V.L. Vignoles. Results. The study revealed three complex predictors of adaptation in each country: perceived inclusiveness of context, ethnocultural identity and closeness to host country. These three complex factors in both countries were positively associated with life satisfaction, and in Estonia with self-esteem as well. Perceived inclusiveness of the context and closeness to host country negatively related to separation and positively related to integration, ethno-cultural identity positively related to separation. In Kyrgyzstan we also revealed culture-specific positive links between ethno-cultural identity and integration and between closeness to host society and assimilation. Conclusion. The study of the mutual contribution of personal and contextual characteristics to success in adaptation to new cultural environment contributes to a deeper understanding of acculturation as a complex dynamic process, the components of which are in constant interaction with each other.

Strategie akulturacyjne wśród międzynarodowych studentów anglojęzycznych programów zarządzania w Polsce

The primary objective of this study was to identify the acculturation strategies employed by international students enrolled in English-speaking management programs in Poland. The study employed two research models: the Tridimensional Acculturation Model developed by Ferguson et al. (2012) and the Relative Acculturation Extended Model (RAEM) proposed by Navas et al. (2005). Both models conceptualize acculturation as a multifaceted and context-dependent process. International students pursuing full-time management study programs exemplify a group susceptible to remote acculturation conditions (Ferguson and Bornstein, 2012). The study was based on in-depth interviews with 19 individuals and was carried out with the use of the Cultural Identity Mapping technique (Ferguson, 2018). Three acculturation strategies employed by students have been identified: separation (an orientation towards the culture of origin while rejecting elements of other cultures), integration (a simultaneous orientation towards two cultures), and multicultural strategy (an orientation towards more than two cultures). The identification of the third strategy contributes to ongoing discussions regarding the limitations of twodimensional acculturation models which fail to encapsulate the increasing complexity and diversity of individuals’ acculturation experiences (e.g., Sam & Ward, 2021; Rudmin, 2006). Finally, remote acculturation turned out to play an important role in the processes associated with the acquisition of the third culture.

Acculturation of Chinese migrant employees in the hospitality industry of South Korea: a profiling study

This study investigates the acculturation process of Generation MZ Chinese migrant workers in the South Korean hospitality industry, focusing on their experiences in overcoming language barriers and cultural differences. Employing snowball sampling, the study gathered data through online questionnaires from Chinese employees working in South Korea's hotels and restaurants, yielding 312 valid responses. The findings highlight the influence of individualism-collectivism orientations on acculturation strategies. Workers with a tendency towards horizontal individualism and collectivism generally prefer assimilation, whereas those with a vertical individualism orientation lean towards marginalization. Interestingly, vertical collectivists, who value social hierarchy and group responsibility, show a predilection for both segregation and integration strategies, underscoring the complex nature of acculturation. The study also found that educational level, Korean language proficiency, and length of stay in Korea significantly affect their acculturation strategy choices. Based on these findings, the study provides vital insights into the adaptation processes of Chinese migrant workers in South Korea's hospitality industry and offers theoretical and practical guidance for effectively recruiting and managing foreign employees, particularly those from China.