Acculturative stress refers to the stressors associated with being an immigrant or ethnic minority and going through the acculturation process. Berry discussed four different types of acculturation.  In separation, immigrants keep their original culture and do not adopt the new culture. In marginalization, immigrants do not identify with either their original culture or their new culture.  In assimilation, immigrants gradually lose all of the markers of their original culture and fully adopt the new culture.  Finally, in integration, an immigrant becomes bicultural - identifying with and being fully functional in both cultures.

Researchers are interested in the variables that may affect the successful assimilation or integration of an individual into a new culture.  Factors that decrease acculturative stress are called protective factors.  On the other hand, risk factors are variables that increase acculturative stress and may prevent successful assimilation or integration.

In a study carried out by Miranda and Matheny (2000), the researchers wanted to see which factors in the lives of Latino immigrants to the United States would decrease the level of acculturative stress. A random sample of 197 members of two social services agencies completed a questionnaire as well as standardized tests to assess family cohesion, level of acculturation, acculturative stress, and coping strategies for stress.

The study suggested that immigrants with effective coping strategies, good proficiency in English, and a strong family structure were less likely to experience acculturative stress. In addition, immigrants who had spent a longer time in the US were less like to demonstrate this stress and show a higher level of acculturation. 

However, not all cultures have the same characteristics.  The study below looked at whether protective and risk factors were similar for Asian immigrants to the USA.

The aim of this study was to investigate the variables that may predict acculturative stress in a nationally representative sample of Asian immigrants and Asian Americans. The sample consisted of 2095 Asian Americans.  1271 of the participants were first-generation immigrants who were 18 years and older when they came to the US.  The rest of the sample was born in the US to first-generation immigrant parents. The sample consisted of several different Asian cultures, including Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese.

The researchers carried out semi-structured interviews.  The interviewers had cultural and linguistic backgrounds similar to those of the sample population. Interviews were conducted either over the Internet or face-to-face.  A randomly selected sample of participants was contacted to validate the data taken from their interviews.

The interviews measured the participants’ level of acculturative stress.  They also measured the impact of language proficiency, language preference, discrimination, social networks, family cohesion, and socioeconomic status on acculturative stress.

In 1433 of the 2095 interviews, participants were found to have acculturative stress according to their acculturative stress score – that is, 70% of the sample.  

The study drew the following conclusions:

1. A bilingual language preference contributed to lower acculturative stress. Asians who are able to use both languages equally with their friends are able to build up networks of support within and outside their community. Stress may arise when Asian Americans do not know the native language well enough to discuss sensitive issues with family members at home or in the native country who may have limited or no abilities in English
2. Although bilingualism is a predictor of low acculturative stress, the preference for speaking English only is a predictor of high acculturative stress.
3. Negative treatment – including prejudice, xenophobia, harassment, and threats - significantly contributed to higher acculturative stress.
4. Sharing similar values and beliefs as a family significantly contributed to lowering acculturative stress
5. Acculturative stress was significantly lower among those who were very satisfied with their economic opportunities in the US and also among immigrants who, if they would have to make the decision again, would still move to the United States.