PURPOSE

The importance of culture for ensuring safe and high-quality nursing care cannot be overstated. However, despite the increase in nurse migration, the concept of acculturation in nursing has not been well defined. This study aimed to elucidate the concept of acculturation in immigrant nurses.

The defining attributes of the concept were established using Walker and Avant's 8-step method. This article is due to the dissertation of the PhD degree course approved and defended at the Faculty of Nursing, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences. In this study, the researcher started collecting data after receiving the Code of Ethics (IR.BMSU.REC.1401.114) from the Iran National Committee for Ethics in Biomedical Research. The researcher provided the participants with contact information and was always ready to answer their research queries.

Without any time constraints, a search was conducted on databases including Scopus, Pub Med, Web of Science, SID, Magiran, Irandoc, and Oxford Medical Dictionary using the keywords 'acculturation' and 'immigrant nurses'. Atotal of 18 articles were analyzed based on the inclusion criteria.

Immigrant nurses experience acculturation through two main attributes. One-way acculturation involves the impact of social values, norms, customs, and habits on the nurses. Two-way acculturation refers to the cultural exchange between the nurse and the new environment.

According to the study, immigrant nurses experience acculturation as being impacted by various aspects such as beliefs, values, norms, behaviors, and habits.

The purpose of this study was to explore the knowledge, perception, and beliefs of newly arrived Filipino immigrants regarding Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), healthy lifestyle, and perceived barriers to healthy lifestyle. This is a qualitative study. A sample (n=40) of newly-arrived (less than six years in United States) first generation Filipino immigrants, not diagnosed with T2DM, living in southeastern part of United States were the focus of the study. Face to face interviews were conducted using an interview guide. No further interviews were conducted after data were saturated. The data sources were field notes and audio-recorded interviews, which were transcribed verbatim by the researcher. This study complied with the protocol for human subjects’ protection as obtained from the institutional review board. Prior to analyses of the transcripts, each transcript was read at least twice and compared to the recordings to ensure accuracy and completeness. To ensure trustworthiness, selected transcripts were reviewed and coded by two experience qualitative researchers to ensure inter-coder reliability. A significant number of the participants had little knowledge and few beliefs about T2DM. The perceptions of T2DM were varied, but several beliefs were widely held: (a) T2DM is a “sugar disease” that is based on sweet food intake, (b) participants were aiming to achieved healthy lifestyles through diet, exercise and prayers and (c) T2DM can result from several factors, including barriers to healthy lifestyle that includes stress, possible discrimination, and not enough information to navigate health resources. Although immigration brings opportunities, there are also numerous risks. Some of the diabetes beliefs that this study delineates provide anchors for future culturally appropriate intervention programs for recent Filipino immigrants. One of the major findings in this study was the low diabetes literacy among the participants. Immigrants with low diabetes literacy may have lower awareness of the disease condition, which may have a negative impact on their disease prevention behaviors. Migratory background is also an important factor influencing beliefs about disease prevention. These results provide information for the design of health programs for the prevention of T2DM in the Philippines and United States.
Acculturation ; Healthy Lifestyle ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to identify relationships between acculturation, social network, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among Korean-Chinese immigrants. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 147 Korean-Chinese immigrants who were residing more than 1 year in Korea. Physical and mental dimensions of HRQOL were assessed by Short Form-12 Health Survey that consisted of a physical component summary (PCS) and a mental component summary (MCS). Data were analyzed with Pearson's correlation and multiple regression. RESULTS: The mean PCS score was 41.14+/-10.72 and the mean MCS score was 49.09+/-11.31 (possible range 10-70). Depression (beta=-6.43) and Social network frequency (beta=2.44) explained 28.4% of the variance in PCS while depression (beta=-11.54) and visiting clinic/hospital (beta=-4.00) explained 34.3% of the variance in MCS. Acculturation was not significantly associated with HRQOL. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that the social network frequency influences HRQOL among Korean-Chinese Immigrants. The findings suggest that social network analysis should be considered in the process of developing health intervention strategies for Korean-Chinese immigrants.
Acculturation* ; Depression ; Emigrants and Immigrants* ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Korea ; Quality of Life*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the predictors of acculturative stress among Chinese students in Korea. METHODS: Between October and December 2009, two hundred one Chinese students from three universities located in Cungnam province, were included in the current study using a questionnaire survey. Data analysis was done using SPSS/WIN 17.0 program. RESULTS: The average score of acculturative stress was 38.50+/-6.97. There were significant differences in acculturative stress according to educational level, economic status, type of residence, speaking skill in Korean, listening skill in Korean, grade point average, satisfaction for studying abroad, and perceived health status. The acculturative stress was significantly correlated with depression, resilience and social support. The strongest predictor of acculturative stress among Chinese students was depression. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that developing programs to improve psychological health may provide a buffer against acculturative stress experienced by migrating Chinese students. Furthermore, more studies are needed to explore variables that influence on the international students' acculturation in Korea.
Acculturation ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Depression ; Humans ; Korea ; Statistics as Topic

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of drinking problems in Korean international students in the United States. METHODS: The subjects involved this study were 190 Korean international students in the United States. Data were measured using a drinking problems questionnaire, an acculturative stress scale for international student, and the CES-D. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 17.0 program to calculate mean, standard deviation, ANOVA, Sheffe test and pearson's correlation coefficient. and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: 1) The mean score of the degree of perceived acculturative stress was 2.15+/-0.63, of depression was 17.67+/-9.85, and of drinking problems was 15.03+/-15.52. 2) There were significant correlations between acculturative stress and drinking problems (r=.506, p<.001), between depression and drinking problems (r=.6726, p<.001), and between acculturative stress and depression (r=.453, p<.001). 3) In stepwise multiple regression analysis the most powerful predictor of drinking problems were acculturative stress (beta=.243, p<.001), and depression (beta=.562, p<.001). CONCLUSION: Based on the results, practical implications for reducing the acculturative stress and improving the psychological well-being of Korean students were discussed.
Acculturation ; Depression ; Drinking ; Humans ; United States ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing depression among mothers-in-law in multicultural families. METHODS: For this study, 159 participants from multicultural familieswere recruited through administrative units of the B. & U. Metropolitan City and G. Province. Data related to acculturation stress, resilience, and depression were collected fromApril to August 2014 and analyzed through t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and regression analysis with the SPSS/WIN 22.0 for Windows program. RESULTS: The participants had a moderate level of acculturation stress (2.43+/-0.75: range 1~5) and resilience (4.74+/-1.14: range 1~7). About 58% of the participants had depression. The results of stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that mothersin-law's depression was affected by resilience (beta=-1.17, p<.001), acculturation stress (beta=0.85, p=.026), perceived economic level (beta=-0.83, p=.016), difficulty in physical activity (beta=-0.62, p=.027), relationship satisfaction (beta=-0.51, p=.035), and education level (beta=-0.48, p=.033). The explanatory power of these factors was 35%. CONCLUSION: The findings indicated the need to lower the level of depression by enhancing resilience and reducing acculturation stress among mothers-in-law in multicultural families. Future research to reduce depression among mothers-in-law inmulticultural families should consider how to enhance resilience and reduce acculturation stress.
Acculturation* ; Aged ; Depression* ; Education ; Humans ; Motor Activity ; Resilience, Psychological

The purpose of this study was to investigate dietary behaviors and nutritional knowledge among immigrant women in multicultural families. In addition, this study reveals a necessity for nutrition education, which is apparent to both immigrant women living in multicultural families as well as nutrition education experts. The survey was conducted with 30 immigrant women within multicultural families in Seoul. The dietary behaviors of the women were significantly different by their period of residence. The longer they had resided in Korea, the higher their dietary behavior score. However, there was no significant difference in nutrition knowledge by their period of residence. This study also conducted in-depth personal interviews with 8 immigrant women who lived in Seoul, and with 4 nutrition education experts. These interviews were performed to provide profound insights regarding the content and means of nutrition education for immigrant women. Nutrition education for immigrant women living in multicultural families should proceed at a basic level in terms of language and content, using bilingual (Korean and their native language) education materials. Education topics and content need to be developed differently according to the level of Korean comprehension and period of residence in Korea. Also, this multicultural approach should be adapted when planning nutrition education since immigrant women have various acculturation levels, and the content and means of education should be adjusted to these acculturation levels. Management after nutrition education is necessary for immigrant women who do not have sufficient understanding of the Korean language. Practical educational methods such as real cooking practices and food purchasing simulations must be developed. Finally, the results suggest that the government needs to establish a systematic plan for nutrition education among immigrant women living in multicultural families. Policy support such as training nutrition educators on multicultural individuals residing in Korea is necessary for active and effective nutritional education.
Acculturation ; Comprehension ; Cooking ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Female ; Humans ; Korea

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the impacts of social support and acculturative stress on depression among Korean registered nurses in the United States. METHOD: In total, 137 nurses were recruited through direct interviews and online surveys. The data were collected through a structured questionnaire from June 1, to September 16, 2012, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe's test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression with SPSS WIN 14.0. RESULTS: Social support significantly differed by the length of one's nursing career in US, monthly income and perceived health status. Acculturative stress significantly differed by the length of one's nursing career in US and types of employment setting. Depression significantly differed by the total length of one's nursing career, type of employment setting, and perceived health status. Moreover, Depression was negatively correlated with social support; positively correlated with acculturative stress; social support was negatively correlated with acculturative stress. Factors influencing depression were acculturative stress, perceived health status, and social support, which explained about 23% of the total variance. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that an adaptation program that decreases acculturative stress and improves social support should be developed and implemented for Korean nurses to help them successfully integrate into the healthcare system of new country.
Acculturation ; Delivery of Health Care ; Depression* ; Employment ; Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; United States*

As suicide deaths have been rapidly increasing among the Korean people, the clinical conditions associated with suicide including major depressive disorder (MDD) have also been in the public eye for decades. Thus we discuss the relationship between suicide and depression from the psychosocial perspective. Because the introjected aggression or hostility may be essential psychodynamic factors in suicide and depression, the clinical psychiatrist's or psychotherapist's empathy may be the important psychotherapeutic method in the recovery of object relationships or relieving suicidal patients' self-destructive tendencies. Although various and diverse psychological features have been suggested as the predictive factors of suicide, they have not yet been demonstrated by any statistical models. Psychiatrists should be aware that suicide or suicidal behaviors might be strongly associated with sociocultural background in Korea. Further research may be needed in the area of the relationship among suicide, depression, and sociocultural correlates.
Acculturation ; Aggression ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Empathy ; Eye ; Hostility ; Korea ; Models, Statistical ; Object Attachment ; Psychiatry ; Suicide

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to explore the child rearing experience and associated issues of foreign women married to Korean men. METHODS: Eleven foreign women married to Korean men were selected by a purposive and snowball sampling method. Data were collected during the period from May to August, 2007 by a semi-structured interview guide. Transcribed interview data were analyzed using Giorgi's step of phenomenological analysis. RESULTS: The findings revealed six major themes and relevant subthemes: (a) having motherhood, (b) struggling with obstacles, (c) getting lost, (d) finding ways, (e) harvesting; and (f) looking into the future. CONCLUSIONS: The participants were experiencing multiple acculturative stressors which negatively affected their capacity for rearing children. However, when they had appropriate support, they were able to achieve many successes. Moreover, they were self-directed and making their best efforts to realize their dreams. This study contributed to the limited knowledge on immigrant women's child rearing experiences. It supported the need for comprehensive community programs that meet a variety of needs for this population and the need for public education.
Acculturation ; Child ; Child Rearing ; Cultural Diversity ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Marriage ; Spouses