A longitudinal study of acculturative stress and homesickness: high-school adolescents immigrating from Russia and Ukraine to Israel without parents.

BACKGROUND

Acculturative stress and homesickness are psychological reactions to cross-cultural transition. They may cause a decline in social functioning, increased psychological distress, and, in severe cases, psychiatric disorders among immigrants.

AIM

This study examined changes in acculturative stress and homesickness over the first 3 years in the host country. It also investigated the role of pre-migration psychological resources, perceived discrimination, and perceived social support as predictors of acculturative stress and homesickness.

METHOD

211 high-school adolescents who immigrated from Russia and Ukraine to Israel without parents participated in the study. They filled out self-report questionnaires at four times: about half a year before emigration and during the three consecutive years after immigration.

RESULTS

Acculturative stress strengthened in the second year compared to the first year and decreased in the third year after immigration. Homesickness decreased from the first to the third year after immigration. Pre-migration psychological resources were negatively correlated with acculturative stress and homesickness. Perceived discrimination was positively correlated with acculturative stress and homesickness. Perceived social support from friends and teachers negatively correlated with acculturative stress and homesickness, while perceived social support from the adolescents' parents was not correlated with these variables.

CONCLUSION

Personal psychological resources and social support buffer acculturative stress and homesickness in immigrants, while discrimination aggravates their distress.