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This study examined the relationship between acculturation, depression, and anxiety in Jewish Iranian immigrants. A nonrandom sample of 72 Jewish Iranian men and women, ages 21 to 79, and residing in Southern California were recruited for the purpose of this study. Participants were administered four research instruments: a demographic (background) questionnaire, the Cultural Life Style Inventory (Mendoza, 1989) adapted for Iranian Americans to measure acculturation, the Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition (Beck et al., 1996), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (Beck & Steer, 1993). Two hypotheses were used to examine the relationship between acculturation, depression, and anxiety. Hypothesis one stated that there would be a significant relationship between type of acculturation (Immersion into the U.S. culture, Immersion into the Iranian culture, and Bicultural Immersion) and depression. Hypothesis one had three components. Hypothesis 1a stated that as immersion into the U.S. culture increased, depression scores would decrease. The results supported hypothesis 1a as stated (r = -.389, p < .001). Hypothesis 1b stated that as immersion into the Iranian culture increased, depression scores would increase. The results supported hypothesis 1b as stated (r = .437, p < .001). Hypothesis is stated that as immersion into both U.S. and Iranian cultures increased, depression scores would decrease. The results supported hypothesis 1c as stated (r = -.254, p = .016). Hypothesis two stated that there would be a significant relationship between type of acculturation (Immersion into the U.S. culture, Immersion into the Iranian culture, and Bicultural Immersion) and anxiety. Hypothesis two had three components. Hypothesis 2a stated that as immersion into the U.S. culture increased, anxiety scores would decrease. The results supported hypothesis 2a as stated (r = -.240, p = .001). Hypothesis 2b stated that as immersion into the Iranian culture increased, anxiety scores would increase (r = .350, p = .021). The results supported hypothesis 2b as stated. Hypothesis 2c stated that as immersion into both U.S. and Iranian cultures increased, anxiety scores would decrease. The results supported hypothesis 2c as stated (r = -.255, p = .015).
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