Adjustment and psychosocial problems of Iranian and Filipino physicians in the U.S.

A questionnaire was mailed to 2,521 Iranian and 2,938 Filipino physicians who were practicing medicine in the U.S. Six hundred ninety-five Iranians and 898 Filipinos responded. Data of a section of the questionnaire on perceived adjustment and psychosocial problems were analyzed in this study. Statistical analyses of the data (bivariate correlations, multiple regression, and factor analysis) indicated that the reported adjustment problem was related closely to psychopathological measures such as loneliness, anxiety, depression, homesickness, and low self-esteem in both nationality groups. Participation in social activities with Americans was inversely related to perceived adjustment problems. In both groups, those who had become naturalized U.S. citizens and those who planned to stay permanently in the U.S. were less likely to report adjustment problems. The relationships between perceived adjustment problems and age and total years in the U.S. were not significant for Iranian physicians; however, they were correlated significantly for the Filipinos, which indicates that older physicians in this group and those who had been in the U.S. for a longer period of time were less likely to report adjustment problems. Other differences and similarities between the two nationality groups also were identified.