Afghan Jews and their children: A qualitative study exploring the lived experiences and psychological impact of acculturation on first and second generation traditional Afghan Jewish immigrants

Acculturation is the process of cultural adaptation that occurs as a result of contact between several cultures in which one accepts and adapts to the values of the culture held by the larger society. This study examined the acculturation experiences of Afghan Jewish immigrants living in the United States. Through the process of qualitative research inquiry a phenomenological approach was employed to examine the experiences of six male and female first generation and six male and female second generation Afghan Jewish immigrants currently residing in the United States. Through semi-structured interviews participants described their immigration experiences, acculturation process, and intergenerational differences and similarities between generations. Results indicated that Afghan Jews experienced similar acculturation processes as several other immigrant populations in the United States and endorsed acculturation strategies of traditionality, assimilation, and integration. Additionally Afghan Jews expressed varied types of cultural and ethnic identities, such as Jewish, Afghan, Israeli, American, Middle Eastern, and South East Asian, indicating that their connection to the United States may differ from other groups. The results also revealed intergenerational differences between the two generations with regard to their desire for autonomy and religious observance. The present study explored the experiences of Afghan Jewish immigrants from an ecological model perspective highlighting the systems level influence of acculturation and intergenerational experiences (Bronfenbrenner, 1994). This study contributes to the field of psychology by adding to the minimal literature about this small immigrant population, and providing helpful information for clinicians to increase multicultural awareness about immigrant populations in the U.S.