Acculturation and mental health: Perspectives from Chinese immigrants and European Canadians

This thesis examined the acculturation of Chinese immigrants and the effects of daily hassles on psychophysical distress amongst first-generation Chinese immigrants and Canadian-born Europeans. A total of 142 European Canadians and 97 Chinese immigrants participated in the study. Results indicated that general hassles and psychological well-being were significant predictors of psychophysical distress for the European Canadians. For the Chinese immigrants, psychological well-being was a significant predictor, but neither general, ingroup nor outgroup hassles predicted psychophysical distress. However, outgroup hassles interacted with discrepancy from the perspective of the European Canadians in ideal acculturation attitude. Outgroup hassles did not interact with discrepancy in actual acculturation strategy. Results also indicated that Chinese immigrants considered integration to be their actual acculturation strategy and ideal acculturation attitude. The European Canadians considered Chinese immigrants to have adopted separation as their actual acculturation strategy and would like the immigrants to adopt integration in ways of thinking.