Psychological adaptation of Moroccan and Ecuadorean immigrant adolescents in Spain

Abstract

In adapting to the host society, immigrant adolescents may have problems negotiating the challenges of acculturation. The factors that promote and those that hamper psychological adaptation may not play the same role in all ethnic groups. Our study focuses on psychological adaptation of two main immigrant groups in Spain that differ in cultural distance to the host society and level of societal acceptance: adolescents of Moroccan and Ecuadorean origin. Our findings show, first, that mainstream cultural orientation is positively related to psychological adaptation, whereas perceived ethnic discrimination is negatively associated with adaptation. Second, the relationship between ethnic cultural orientation and psychological adaptation and between length of residence in Spain and adaptation is stronger for the Moroccan youth than for their Ecuadorean peers. Theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed. This manuscript was prepared and written while the first author was affiliated to the University of Cordoba in Spain and financially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation within the framework of a National Program of Human Recourses' Mobility (I+D+I 2008-2011). Data collection was financially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (I+D BSO2003-09222).

Is There a Paradox of Adaptation in Immigrant Children and Youth Across Europe? A Literature Review

“…Our review revealed particularly rich findings in line with the social psychology theory and research emphasizing social processes and intergroup context (Verkuyten, 2005). Extant research findings indicate that various forms of perceived discrimination (e.g., personal, ethnic, group) were significantly and negatively affecting immigrant students' adaptation, such as psychological problems (Bayram Özdemir & Stattin, 2014;Briones et al, 2012;Cristini et al, 2011;Liebkind & Jasinskaja-Lahti, 2000;Liebkind et al, 2004), mental health problems (Neto, 2010b;Virta, Sam, & Westin, 2004), loneliness (Neto, 2002(Neto, , 2010a and behavioral problems (Castro & Bermudez, 2011). Particularly interesting were findings from a large scale study reported by Motti-Stefanidi, Asendorpf, and Masten (2012), where group discrimination was empirically proven to work as a factor that influenced personal discrimination.…”

Psychosocial adaptation: an evolutionary concept analysis exploring a common multidisciplinary language

“…), career (Bimrose & McNair ) and country of residence (Castro & Bermudez , Briones et al . , Ferguson et al . , Gaylord‐Harden et al .…”

“…) and among immigrant students (Briones et al . , Conchas et al . ) and kindergarten students (Boyce et al .…”

The Effect of Length of Residence and Geographical Origin on the Social Inclusion of Immigrants

“…In Spain, the immigrant group with the closest cultural proximity to the host country is the Latin American group. This proximity is based on the similarity of language, religious culture, and a shared history (Arenas & Urzúa, 2016;Briones, Verkuyten, Cosano, & Tabernero, 2012). Thus, one study has suggested that the adaptation process in Spain is better among Latin American and Eastern European immigrants than among African and Asian immigrants (Checa & Monserrat, 2015).…”