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Acculturative Stress in Latin-American Immigrants: An Assessment Proposal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2013

José Antonio Ruiz Hernández ,
Ginesa Torrente Hernández ,
Ángel Rodríguez González  and
María del Carmen Ramírez de la Fe
José Antonio Ruiz Hernández*
Affiliation:
Universidad de Murcia (Spain)
Ginesa Torrente Hernández
Affiliation:
Universidad de Murcia (Spain)
Ángel Rodríguez González
Affiliation:
Universidad de Murcia (Spain)
María del Carmen Ramírez de la Fe
Affiliation:
Universidad de Murcia (Spain)
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to José Antonio Ruiz Hernández. Facultad de Psicología. Universidad de Murcia. 30.100 Campus Universitario de Espinardo. Murcia. (Spain). E-mail: jaruiz@um.es
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Abstract

The aim of this paper was to develop an instrument to assess levels of stress experienced by Latin-American immigrants in their acculturative process in Spain. A sample of 692 immigrants from Latin America, aged 20 to 63 years, took part on this study (54.9% males and 45.1% females). A 24-item questionnaire with high reliability (.92) was elaborated. Six factors related to acculturative stress were found: 1) discrimination and rejection; 2) differences with the out-group (native Spaniards); 3) citizenship problems and legality; 4) problems concerning social relationships with other immigrants; 5) nostalgia and longing; and 6) family break-up. Our findings show that participants have a high level of stress related to nostalgia and longing, family break-up, and the perception of discrimination and rejection by natives. The usefulness of the instrument and its applications and restrictions are discussed.

El objetivo de este trabajo era desarrollar un instrumento de evaluación de los niveles de estrés vivenciados por inmigrantes hispanoamericanos durante el proceso de aculturación en España. En este estudio participaron un total de 692 inmigrantes de América Latina (54.9% hombres y 45.1% mujeres) de entre 20 y 63 años de edad. Mediante el procedimiento aplicado, se construyó un instrumento de 24 ítems con una elevada consistencia interna (.92) y con seis factores que hacen referencia a diversas fuentes de estrés de aculturación: 1) discriminación y el rechazo percibido de los autóctonos por el hecho de ser inmigrante; 2) diferencias con el exogrupo (autóctonos españoles); 3) problemas de ciudadanía y legalidad; 4) problemas de relaciones sociales con otros inmigrantes; 5) la añoranza y nostalgia respecto a personas del país de origen; y 6) la ruptura de la familia. Los datos obtenidos indican que los participantes presentan un elevado estrés relacionado con la añoranza, la ruptura de la familia y la percepción de discriminación y rechazo por parte de los autóctonos. Se discute la utilidad del instrumento, sus aplicaciones y limitaciones.

Keywords

acculturative stresslatin-american immigrantsinstrumental studyestrés de aculturacióninmigrantes hispanoamericanosestudio instrumental
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 14 , Issue 1 , May 2011 , pp. 227 - 236
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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