International Journal of Intercultural Relations
Volume 72, 2019, Pages 45-60

Acculturation and psychological well-being among Middle Eastern migrants in Australia: The mediating role of social support and perceived discrimination (Article)

Hashemi N.* , Marzban M. , Sebar B. , Harris N.
  • a School of Medicine, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, Australia, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, Australia
  • b The Persian Gulf Tropical Medicine Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran, Department of Public Health, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
  • c School of Medicine, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, Australia, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, Australia
  • d School of Medicine, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, Australia, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, Australia

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine the relative contribution of acculturation, perceived social support, and perceived discrimination on psychological well-being (PWB) among Middle Eastern (ME) migrants in Australia. Method(s): A cross-sectional study was conducted in Queensland, Australia. A total of 382 first-generation young adult (aged 20–39 years) ME migrants completed a self-administered questionnaire. The hypothesised model was tested through a two-step process: measurement, and structural model testing. First, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was applied to test the fit of the measurement model and reliability and validity indices were calculated. Structural Equations Modelling (SEM) was then used to test the structural model. The significance of the mediating effect was tested using bootstrapping method. Results: Mainstream acculturation had the greatest accumulated total effect on PWB through both a direct and an indirect effect via perceived discrimination. Ethnic acculturation had the second greatest total effect on PWB, with both a direct effect and indirect effects through perceived social support and perceived discrimination. Perceived discrimination demonstrated both a direct effect and an indirect effect on PWB through perceived social support. Perceived social support had only a direct effect on PWB. Conclusions: Facilitating ME migrants’ active participation in both ethnic and mainstream societies is important. Moreover, developing ethnic communities associations and resources could be an effective option to provide social support to ME migrants and in turn to improve their PWB. To provide ME migrants with better mental health outcomes, there is still a need to minimize the discrimination against them. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd

Author Keywords

perceived discrimination Perceived social support Mainstream acculturation Middle Eastern migrants in Australia Ethnic acculturation Psychological well-being

Index Keywords

validity structural model human controlled study bootstrapping organization social support Young Adult cross-sectional study migrant male female reliability confirmatory factor analysis questionnaire cultural factor Article adult human experiment psychological well-being outcome assessment Queensland
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85069614867&doi=10.1016%2fj.ijintrel.2019.07.002&partnerID=40&md5=8f9c8cc502e8831a96c6d267be3b173e
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijintrel.2019.07.002
ISSN: 01471767
Original Language: English