Cultural Identity, Acculturation, and Mental Health
of Immigrant Youths
- Review Study for Canada's Immigrant Youth Population -
Kim, Hyun-Sil1)
1) Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, Daegu Haany University
Post-doctoral fellow, Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Purpose: This study presents the finding of various research project examining relationship between cultural identity, acculturation, and mental health, and suggested the health policy making for Canada's immigrant population based on these findings. Method: Research objectives were accomplished by conducting a literature review. The main areas of the literature review included immigration and mental health outcomes, cultural identity, acculturation and changes in psychological well-being. Result: Arrival and resettlement in a new country often involves a period of significant readjustment and stress. Findings from previous studies suggest that cultural identity may contribute uniquely to the psychological well-being and successful development of ethnic-minority youths. It has been proposed that acculturation also affects mental health by virtue of being a source of stress, or by affecting individual responses to stress. Conclusion: This study concluded with policy implications and recommendation for future study. From the review of relevant literatures, the author suggests that programs and policies that empower immigrant groups to develop and maintain their own cultural identity and ethnic pride have positive long-term effects for the improvement of immigrant population's mental health status.
Key words : Acculturation, Cultural Identity, Mental health, Immigration, Youth
Cultural Identity, Acculturation, and Mental Health
of Immigrant Youths
- Review Study for Canada's Immigrant Youth Population -
Kim, Hyun-Sil1)
1) Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, Daegu Haany University
Post-doctoral fellow, Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Purpose: This study presents the finding of various research project examining relationship between cultural identity, acculturation, and mental health, and suggested the health policy making for Canada's immigrant population based on these findings. Method: Research objectives were accomplished by conducting a literature review. The main areas of the literature review included immigration and mental health outcomes, cultural identity, acculturation and changes in psychological well-being. Result: Arrival and resettlement in a new country often involves a period of significant readjustment and stress. Findings from previous studies suggest that cultural identity may contribute uniquely to the psychological well-being and successful development of ethnic-minority youths. It has been proposed that acculturation also affects mental health by virtue of being a source of stress, or by affecting individual responses to stress. Conclusion: This study concluded with policy implications and recommendation for future study. From the review of relevant literatures, the author suggests that programs and policies that empower immigrant groups to develop and maintain their own cultural identity and ethnic pride have positive long-term effects for the improvement of immigrant population's mental health status.
Key words : Acculturation, Cultural Identity, Mental health, Immigration, Youth