What is Acculturative Stress?

Acculturative stress affects people who have immigrated to another country and later generations of those individuals

The process of cultural adjustment refers to the changes that an individual must make in their own behaviors, habits, and values in order to adopt or adapt to the norms of the majority culture (Borrego et al., 2019). On the other hand, acculturative stress can be experienced when transitioning from one culture to another. Acculturative stress refers to the mental and emotional challenges people experience when adapting to a new culture. It is a response that emerges from the effects of multiple stressors resulting from the need to acculturate (Lerias et. al., 2025). Therefore, it is natural that the experience is stressful and hence puts individuals who experience it at a high risk for mental health challenges (Rogers-Sirin et al., 2014). It is common for immigrants and subsequent generations to experience cultural adjustment stress (Iwamasa et al., 2013). Acculturative stress can include things like language barriers and culture, and it can have detrimental effects on people’s well-being. In this sketch, we will explore the concept of acculturative stress and how we can manage it.

Why Does Acculturative Stress Occur?

Acculturative stress affects people who have immigrated to another country and later generations of those individuals (e.g., their children). It occurs because when people move to a new country, they are faced with unique challenges such as language barriers, culture shock, homesickness, and discrimination. These challenges can lead people to feel isolated and/or othered, and they are compounded by the reality that they may be separated from their families and support systems in their country of origin.

What Factors Impact Acculturative Stress?

The factors that lead to acculturation are numerous and complex (Gebregergis, 2018). In addition to the challenges faced with adapting to a new culture, research has shown that certain factors can protect against or worsen acculturative stress.

For example, people who immigrate to a culture similar to their own, will have an easier time adapting to the new culture. However, the larger the differences between the cultures, the more difficult it will be to adapt. Other factors that have been found to impact acculturative stress include things like someone’s ability to cope and build community, and personal characteristics like race, gender, age, and personality.

On the other hand, a study assessing acculturation stress among international students found that homesickness, prejudice and discrimination, culture shock, fear, and hatred were among the factors contributing to acculturation stress (Gebregergis, 2018). Homesickness, which includes longing for family and friends, adjustment problems, and feelings of alienation, is seen as the leading factor contributing to acculturation stress. The fact that international students see less interaction in community activities and face discrimination also causes them to develop health problems, making the adaptation process more difficult for them. When students become insensitive to the cultural practices of the host culture due to cultural dissonance or cultural distance, they experience culture shock and feel acculturation stress deeply. On the other hand, it is also possible for international students to feel anxious and insecure in new environments and to experience the fear of the unknown. Cultural threats related to prejudice, negative stereotypes, in-group anxiety, and inconsistencies in beliefs and attitudes are also known to be important factors in acculturative stress. Moreover, other determinants of acculturative stress include a lack of confidence in communicating in the local language, reluctance to participate in social activities, and a lack of sense of belonging. When factors are considered from the perspective of children, it is suggested that factors such as the legal status of the family, forced or voluntary migration, and perceived discrimination affect acculturative stress (Potochnick & Perreira, 2010). Given the many different factors that play a role in acculturative stress, it's important to also recognize how this stress affects the mental health and well-being of individuals.

How Does Acculturative Stress Affect People?

Although experiencing acculturative stress is not necessarily negative and does not lead to psychological difficulties, many studies have demonstrated its effects in the context of mental health (Berry et. al., 1994; Hovey, 2000; Thoman & Suris, 2004). For example, acculturative stress has been associated with anxiety, depression (Revollo et. al., 2011; Torres et. al., 2012), and body image disturbance (Menon and Harter, 2012) among immigrants. In African-American populations, it is associated with depression and suicidal thoughts (Walker et. al., 2008). Another study revealed a significant relationship between acculturation stress and anxiety in a sample of Hispanic youth (Suarez-Morales & Lopez, 2009). A study examining the effects of acculturation stress in the context of immigrant youth found significant associations between acculturation stress and major depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, substance abuse, conduct problems, and poor psychological well-being (Lerias et. al., 2025). According to Lerias et al. (2025), among young people in the developmental stages of late adolescence and adulthood, increased sensitivity to stress and developmental demands affects their mental health. In conclusion, studies indicate that the concept of acculturative stress can significantly affect individuals across various populations and age groups.

Examples of Acculturative Stress

In addition to its effects on mental health, acculturative stress can also be seen in many day-to-day experiences. Sometimes it may not be easy to make sense of the situations we are in and to analyze what we are experiencing. In order to approach ourselves with awareness when we experience acculturation stress, or to approach a loved one experiencing acculturation stress with understanding, it is important to gain information about the situations that arise as a result of this stress. Here are some examples of situations we may encounter when experiencing acculturation stress:

• Identity confusion: Living back and forth between two different cultures and making an intense effort to maintain a sense of self and belonging is a natural situation that can be addressed in the context of acculturation stress.

• Alienation: Feeling like you do not belong to the new culture you are in and feeling like a stranger to that culture, the people around you, and their values, ​​is a significant example of acculturation stress.

• Cultural mismatch: It is possible to experience conflicts between the values, beliefs, and habits held in the new culture and the values, beliefs, and habits held in the individual’s own culture.

• Loneliness: When experiencing acculturation stress, it is normal to feel disconnected and isolated from others, even when there are people around you physically.

• Homesickness: Although a strong longing for one’s own country, culture, and values ​​is normal during the process, it is also challenging.

Even though acculturative stress can take many forms like above, it can be managed with helpful strategies and support.

Managing Acculturative Stress

Developing healthy coping skills is key to managing acculturative stress and the ways it can potentially affect someone’s health. Here are some ways to manage acculturative stress:

• Remain in touch with family and loved ones in the country of origin.

• Remain connected to your own culture through celebrations, ceremonies, foods, and other practices.

• Learn skills and information about the new culture to facilitate acculturation.

• Develop social connections and build a support network.

• Seek therapy from a therapist who prioritizes cultural competency.

Take aways

• Acculturative stress refers to the mental and emotional challenges people experience when adapting to a new culture.

• The factors that lead to acculturation are numerous and complex. The similarity of one’s culture, the ability to cope and build community, and personal characteristics such as race, gender, age, and personality can affect acculturation stress.

• Studies indicate that the concept of acculturative stress can significantly affect individuals across various populations and age groups.

• We may encounter situations such as identity confusion, alienation, cultural mismatch, loneliness, and homesickness when experiencing acculturation stress.

• Developing healthy coping skills, remaining in touch with family and loved ones, remaining connected to your own culture, learning skills and information about the new culture, developing social connections, and seeking therapy from a therapist can be helpful in managing acculturative stress.

References

• American Psychological Association. (2012). Fact sheet: Health disparities and stress. Apa.org. https://www.apa.org/topics/racism-bias-discrimination/health-disparities-stress

• Iwamasa, G. Y., Shilpa M.P. Regan, Subica, A., & Yamada, A.-M. (2013). Nativity and Migration. Elsevier EBooks, 167–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-394420-7.00009-6

• Kuo, B. C. H. (2014). Coping, acculturation, and psychological adaptation among migrants: a theoretical and empirical review and synthesis of the literature. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 2(1), 16–33. https://doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2013.843459

• Miller De Rutté, A. M., & Rubenstein, B. P. (2021). Acculturative Stress and the Effects on Health and Health Behaviors in Hispanic Immigrants: A Systematic Review. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 43(4), 073998632110448. https://doi.org/10.1177/07399863211044897

• NeuroLaunch. (2024, August 18). Acculturative Stress: Causes, Effects, and Coping Strategies. NeuroLaunch.com. https://neurolaunch.com/acculturative-stress/

• Sirin, S. R., Ryce, P., Gupta, T., & Rogers-Sirin, L. (2013). The role of acculturative stress on mental health symptoms for immigrant adolescents: a longitudinal investigation. Developmental psychology, 49(4), 736–748. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0028398

• Gebregergis, W. T. (2018). Major Causes of Acculturative Stress and Their Relations with Sociodemographic Factors and Depression among International Students. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 06(10), 68–87. https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2018.610007

• Lerias, D., Ziaian, T., Miller, E., Arthur, N., Augoustinos, M., & Pir, T. (2025). The Role of Acculturative Stress on the Mental Health of Immigrant Youth: A Scoping Literature Review. Community mental health journal, 61(3), 462–491. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-024-01351-x

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• Suarez-Morales, L., & Lopez, B. (2009). The impact of acculturative stress and daily hassles on pre-adolescent psychological adjustment: Examining anxiety symptoms. The Journal of Primary Prevention, 30, 335-349.

• Potochnick, S. R., & Perreira, K. M. (2010). Depression and anxiety among first-generation immigrant Latino youth: key correlates and implications for future research. The Journal of nervous and mental disease, 198(7), 470-477.