An Exploration of Asian Indian American Acculturative Stress on Cognition
Abstract
The United States (U.S.) Census indicates there are 4.8 million individuals who identify as Asian Indian (Batalova & Hanna, 2019). In spite of these large community numbers, there is a lack of research on Asian Indians’ acculturation process and its effect on cognition. The acculturation model introduced by Berry (1980) states that one’s assimilation and adaption into the host country is multidimensional. Factors associated with acculturative stress among Asian Indians include age of migration, social isolation/loneliness, discrimination, educational level, and English proficiency (Balgopal, 1999; Rudmin, 2009). Generational differences and language acquisition also influence acculturative stress for Asian Indians living in America. The purpose of this study was to explore: 1) the relationship between acculturative stress and cognition; and 2) the relationship between Asian Indian’s acculturative stress and cognitive performance when mediated by generational status. Findings from the ANOVA of acculturative stress groups and CWIT founded no significant difference amongst the level of acculturative stress experience by Indian Americans and CWIT scores. However, an ANOVA between acculturative stress group and Digit Span scores found significant difference between acculturative stress level 1 and 2 with 3. Results also found that generational status, amongst 1st, 1.5th, and 2nd generation, all experienced their version of acculturative stress. Lastly, generational status did act as a covariate in the prediction of acculturative stress experienced on cognitive functioning.
Subject Area
Psychology|Cognitive psychology|Asian American Studies
Recommended Citation
Priya Shashikant Patel-Shah,
"An Exploration of Asian Indian American Acculturative Stress on Cognition"
(2023).
ETD Collection for Tennessee State University.
Paper AAI30526213.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI30526213