| Abstract
|
:
|
An exploratory mixed-methods design was used to shed light on the relationship between acculturative styles of Arab American mother/adolescent dyads and outcome measures (symptoms and conflict). In addition, the acculturation gap between Arab American immigrant parents and their children, and its relationship to individual well being and relationship quality was explored. In addition, the values and experiences of acculturation were also explored to gain increased insight into this group. The sample consisted of 20 mother-adolescent pairs of Arab American decent with adolescents ranging in age from 14-18 (12 males, 8 females) and time parents in the US ranging from 8-25 with a mean of 17.7 (SD = 5.2). The mixed methods design utilized both a qualitative interview and quantitative questionnaires including the Stephenson Multigroup Acculturation Scale (SMAS), the Asian Values Scale-Revised (AVS-R), the Asian American Family Conflicts Scale (AAFCS) and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). Stepwise regression analyses of the data showed a significant interaction between parent's acculturative style and reported family conflict (child report: F (16, 1) = 6.283, p =.023; mother's report: F (16, 1) = 4.5493, p = .049) resulting in two profiles of risk for higher reported conflict (by both the mother child) specifically when a mother's acculturative style is integrated or marginalized. In addition the acculturation gap-distress hypothesis was supported utilizing a stepwise regression analysis, showing an interaction between level of ethnic society identification (of mother vs. adolescent) and mother's symptom distress ( F (16, 1) =6.205, p =.024). Specifically a mother's symptom distress was highest when the level of ethnic society identification is most discrepant between the mother and adolescent. The acculturation gap-distress hypothesis was also supported when looking at acculturative styles relative to the sample with significant interactions between acculturative style differences (mother vs. adolescent) and adolescent reported family conflict ( F (16,1) = 5.663, p = .030). Finally, the qualitative data was used to better understand these phenomena. These results provide a significant addition to the acculturation data, in looking at a group that has not been extensively studied in the past and raising questions regarding the ability to generalize the adaptability of specific acculturative styles across groups.
|