Relationship between acculturation and mental health for Asian Indian immigrants in the United States.

Abstract

A community sample of Indian immigrants in the United States (N = 195) completed a survey to assess the relationship between acculturation and mental health. The relationship among several social and demographic variables, three aspects of acculturation (perception of acceptance, cultural orientation, and language usage), and three aspects of mental health (psychological distress, acculturative stress, and satisfaction) were examined. Multiple regression analyses were used to identify statistical predictors of a composite index of mental health. Results indicated that acceptance and cultural orientation play crucial roles in mental health, independent of various social and demographic variables. Feeling accepted by the host society and being involved with Americans and U.S. culture were related to better mental health.