Summarizes what is known about the process of acculturation, with a focus on acculturative stress. Anthropologists and psychologists use the term “acculturation” to denote the changes associated with moving to a new culture. The process of acculturation involves both psychological and social changes that can cause stress and which cross-cultural psychologists have dubbed acculturative stress. On the personal level, acculturative stress can lead to reduced physical and psychological health, lowered levels of motivation, a sense of alienation, and even increased social deviance. On the societal level, acculturative stress is associated with increased health care costs, lower educational and work attainment (with related higher welfare costs), increased intrafamilial and intergroup conflict, substance abuse, criminal activity, and general malaise. If individuals who are in the process of acculturating are denied participation in the larger society, whether through discrimination or other forms of marginalization, then their mental health will be jeopardized. While acculturative stress is a possible consequence of acculturation, the likelihood of its occurrence will be greatly reduced if the larger society both invites newcomers to participate in the new culture and encourages them to maintain their own cultural heritage as well.
