Uses and gratifications theory posits that media use is an intentional and selective process by individuals in order to satisfy emotional needs. Basis this theory, the author conducted an exploratory study to compare social media engagement with four factors of acculturation among Hispanic Americans. These variables were also compared to the variables of education level and generation in order to test for a relationship. An online questionnaire captured data from a sample of Hispanic American participants (N = 85). Correlation analysis was performed, and results indicated that generation had a significant relationship with social media engagement and three out of four of the factors of acculturation.

Individuals of Mexican descent have resided in the United States for more than a century and a half and during that time have experienced varying degrees of acceptance. As American society has generally adopted the view that "foreigners" should assimilate to mainstream American culture, many individuals of Mexican descent have faced demands to distance themselves from their culture in order to adopt the behaviors and values consistent with White American culture. While many ethnic groups may have faced similar circumstances, the experiences of individuals of Mexican descent may differ from those of others due to the close proximity of Mexico to the United States and the constant flow of Mexican immigrants, which together may contribute to their retention of their native culture. As individuals of Mexican descent experience greater contact with their native and White American culture, particularly while in pursuit in success, it becomes necessary to understand what pressures individuals experience when among their White American and same-ethnicity peers. Furthermore, it is necessary to examine how they negotiate their bicultural contexts in response to the pressures they face. Using a sample of university student who were of Mexican descent, this study employed qualitative methods and select measures to explore their perceptions of pressures faced and adaptive strategies utilized when among their White American and same-ethnicity peers. The results from the present study indicated that the participants believed their culture continues to be seen as inferior and is unaccepted by White Americans. As a result of their beliefs, which were reinforced by their minority status, stereotypes, and intergroup experiences, many reported experiencing distress when among their White peers. Among their same-ethnicity peers, many reported experiencing pressure to remain connected to their culture. Despite different definitions of what remaining connected meant, the most commonly referenced criterion included being fluent in Spanish and having to overcome struggles. In order to negotiate their bicultural settings, the majority of the participants utilized an adaptive approach to their bicultural contexts that allowed them the flexibility to draw from both cultures in a manner that was consistent with their values, beliefs, and cultural identity. / text

In Jamaica, sexual acts between men are still punishable by law. Numerous incidents of violence against gay men and lesbians have prompted human rights groups to distinguish it as one of the most homophobic places on earth. There are many cases of gay Jamaican men seeking resettlement and refuge in Canada. While any transition to a new country and culture can be challenging for immigrants, there is limited research that speaks to the experiences of the gay Jamaican men. This paper is based on stories gathered from four gay Jamaican men who came to Canada as refugees and highlights issues of acculturation related to connection with Canadian culture, letting go of the home culture, challenges in support systems and the inability to feel comfortable, confident and settled in the new Canadian environment. The project resulted in a compilation of visual stories and audio clips that were placed on a website (http://queeryingjamaica.tumblr.com/). Using the tools available through social media, the stories provide a source of representation.

Abstract Purpose: Acculturation is associated with negative health behaviors and dietary practices among Latino’s in the U.S. Many social aspects include educational attainment, poverty, cultural norms and socio-cultural markers such as acculturation have been shown to directly and indirectly influence risk for obesity. However, few studies have examined the impact that acculturation has on obesity among children. For this reason, the objective of this thesis is to examine the prevalence and correlates of overweight in Latino children focusing specifically on language spoken at home as a proxy measure for acculturation. Methods: Secondary analysis were conducted of the National Survey of Children’s Health (2003). The cross-sectional analyses were limited to Hispanic children ages 6-17. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the association between overweight and language spoken at home, age, gender, educational attainment, media use, neighborhood safety and exercise frequency. Finally, stratified analyses were conducted to determine the prevalence and correlates of overweight in Spanish versus English speaking households. Results: Currently, the CDC reports that the prevalence of overweight among Latino children is 22%, higher than both non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black respectively. The findings show that Spanish language spoken at home is significantly associated with overweight among Latino children (Adj.OR 1.25 95% CI:1.09-1.43). Educational attainment showed significant association with increase in overweight; the lower the educational attainment the more likely these children were overweight. Additionally, frequent exercise reduced likelihood of overweight. Conclusions: Although, the findings are contradictory to the literature,primary language is associated with overweight for Latino children. The results also suggest that there are important similarities and differences between primary Spanish and English speaking Latino household that can be used to inform prevention programs and strategies for reducing overweight specifically among Latinos.

Historically, Liberian immigrants to the United States tended to be wealthy, educated individuals who wanted their children to acquire a Western education. The thirteen-year Liberian Civil War resulted in a new wave of U.S. migration. Many recent Liberian immigrants hold low socio-economic statuses. Some came to this country illiterate or with gaps in their education. This has created a cultural-educational gap amongst newly arrived Liberian immigrants. Many young Liberian immigrants struggle with educational and socialization issues. Studies have been conducted on the acculturation experiences of youths from Europe, Asia, and South and Central America. Yet to date, very little research has been done on the lives of African youth, especially those who emigrated from Liberia after the civil war. Their voices have been missing from the literature. This qualitative study provides narratives of four Liberian immigrant youths, between the ages of 18 and 22 years old, who formerly attended schools in Liberia, have lived in the U.S. less than ten years, and have attended at least three years of high school in the United States. Each youth was interviewed regarding their school, home, and community acculturation experiences. Excerpts of their interviews allow the reader to hear the participants' stories in their own words. Findings of the research from emergent themes indicate that the Liberian immigrant youths had many commonalities in their acculturation experiences such as: accent ridicule, bullying by peers, fights between African Americans and Liberian immigrants, and lack of appreciation for African cultures. The participants also struggled with ethnic identity issues, limited finances, and unjust educational and social systems in the United States. All four Liberian immigrants experienced some type of external and internal conflicts. A relationship was found between the possession of resiliency traits and the Liberian immigrant youths' abilities to handle conflicts and successfully acculturate to the United States. Two participants possessed strong resiliency characteristics such as autonomy, problem solving abilities, abilities to forgive, a sense of purpose and future, and creativity. They had favorable acculturation experiences, successfully graduating from high school. Two other participants lacked resiliency traits and had less favorable acculturation experiences. They succumbed to external and internal conflicts and dropped out of high school.

This study examined the influence of acculturation on disordered eating attitudes and behaviours of Afro-Caribbean women living in Canada. 134 Afro-Caribbean women, aged 18-35 years, completed an online questionnaire evaluating body satisfaction, two indices of acculturation, adaptation and maintenance, and disordered eating attitudes and behaviours. One domain of acculturation, Canadian cultural adaptation, was found to moderate the relation between body satisfaction and disordered eating: Those who most strongly identified with Canadian culture had the strongest relation between body dissatisfaction and disordered eating and attitudes. Disordered eating attitudes and behaviours were reported most often in individuals with high Canadian cultural adaptation and identification with Canadian values. Suggestions for further research and clinical implications are discussed

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

The purpose of this investigation is to trace the relationship between the atomistic personality and the social structures of the Chippewa-Ojibwa cultural-linguistic groups. The selection of this group was determined after an ethnographic survey of the urban Indians of Chicago at the American Indian Center during the summer of 1973. The basic hypothesis of this research is that the atomistic personality, which is a characteristic feature of the Chippewa-Ojibwa, has hindered native development of extensive social structures known historically beyond that of the individual family and that most of the social structures were results of externally initiated forces or influences.In delineating the types of social structures, I have described five temporal levels. In observing each of these levels, I have included the range of social structures (e.g. Family, tribal, inter-tribal) and the external historic factors.

Dans le cadre de ce projet de recherche, le processus d’acculturation a été étudié en l’occurrence du phénomène global du flux de migration des Congolais catholiques dans la region d’Ottawa- Gatineau. Nous avons cherché à comprendre la signification que peuvent donner les participants à la rencontre interculturelle lorsque la chorale congolaise catholique anime en rite zaïrois une messe hebdomadaire dans deux paroisses franco- canadiennes. Dans ce contexte d’interculturalité et d’intégration de nouveaux arrivants au Canada, nous nous sommes intéressés au phénomène culturel de l’animation de la chorale Lisanga de la communauté Congolaise-catholique Bondeko d’Ottawa-Gatineau. C’est ainsi que nous avons examiné cette expérience comme une rencontre dans un contexte d’acculturation et d’un espace de convivialité interculturelle. Pour aborder ce sujet, nous avons recueilli des données quantitatives, des données qualitatives et nous nous sommes attachés à l’analyse des données récoltées à partir de notre observation afin de faire ressortir les points d’influence interrelationnels. Nous nous sommes inspirées du modèle d’acculturation interactif (MAI) de Bourhis et coll. (1997) pour recueillir nos données quantitatives puisque ce modèle « tient compte de la réciprocité dynamique qui se crée lors d’une interaction entre deux cultures » (p. 370). De plus, nous avons présenté la notion de cosmopolitisme d’Appiah (2006) et la perspective culturelle sur la mondialisation d’Appadurai (2005) au modèle non seulement pour le bonifier, mais encore pour tenir compte de la réciprocité des énigmes face à une interaction interculturelle. Par le biais de notre étude, nous avons pu constater que cette rencontre interculturelle déclenche un processus d’acculturation interrelationnel de la chorale vers les communautés paroissiales et des communautés paroissiales vers la chorale. Même si certains maintiennent une certaine distance, et qu’il puisse y avoir des bris dans la communication interculturelle, l’événement a suscité la reconnaissance mutuelle chez plusieurs participants dans le cadre d’une activité de détente au sein de l’Église catholique. Ceci veut dire que notre recherche a pu faire avancer les connaissances dans le processus d’acculturation cosmopolite où chacun peut oser sortir de sa zone de confort et reconnaître la richesse de l’autre.

This study assesses race-ethnic group variations in acculturation experiences by identifying distinct acculturation classes, and investigates the role of these acculturation classes for mental health and group differences in mental health among Latino and Asian immigrants in the United States. Using 2002-2003 the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS), Latent Class Analysis is used to capture variations in immigrant classes (recent arrivals, separated, bicultural and assimilated), and OLS regressions are used to assess the link between acculturation classes and mental health. The findings reveal group differences in acculturation classes, whereby Latino immigrants were more likely to be in the separated class and recent arrivals class relative to Asian immigrants. For both Latinos and Asians, bicultural immigrants reported the best mental health, and separated immigrants and recent arrivals reported the worst mental health. While there was not a significant group difference in mental health at the bivariate level, controlling for acculturation classes revealed that Latinos report better mental health than Asians. Thus, Latino immigrants would actually have better mental health than their Asian counterparts if they were not more likely to be represented in less acculturated classes (separated class and recent arrivals) and/or as likely to be in the bicultural class as their Asian counterparts. Together the findings underscore the nuanced and complex nature of the acculturation process, highlighting the importance of race and ethnic group differences in this process, and demonstrate the role of acculturation classes for race-ethnic group differences in mental health.