Research That Matters (January 17 - 20, 2008)

Purpose: Literature on immigrant youth suggests that acculturation and adaptation to American society is extremely stressful for youth. Berry, Phinney, Vedder and Sam (2006), Suarez-Orozco and Suarez-Orozco (2001), and Rumbaut and Portes (2001) suggest that immigrant youth face acculturative stress in adapting to schools, neighborhoods, mosques, work place, and conflicts at home. These challenges result in difficulties in personal and social settings including intergenerational conflicts, school performance and identity challenges (Al-Johr, 2005; Barazangi, 1996; Hodge, 2002; and Ross-Sheriff and Husain, 2001). However, there is paucity in the research literature addressing the acculturation and adaptation of immigrant Muslim youth. The purpose of this study was to develop an understanding about the acculturation experiences of first generation immigrant Muslim youth. Four major objectives were: 1) to identify challenges faced by Muslim youth; 2) to ascertain strategies youth utilize to adapt to the challenges they face; 3) to describe their specific acculturation patterns, which are assimilation, integration, separation, and marginalization; and 4) to explore their overall experience at home, school, and society.

Methods: The study employed a mixed methods approach using a self administered survey and two focus groups. The survey comprised of questions on demographic information, educational achievements, religiosity and the Vancouver Index of Acculturation. Using purposive sampling, the study recruited forty first generation Muslim youth in the Los Angeles Metropolitan area. Twenty four of the forty participants voluntarily took part in two focus groups. The interview guide for the focus groups consisted of questions on challenges faced by youth, their preferences for socializing, and their strategies for dealing with stress.

Results: The data from the self-administered survey was analyzed using SPSS. The sample youth were between the ages of 13 and 19, with a mean age of 15.33. Almost all of the youth were living in two parent households. They had high levels of English proficiency and religiosity. The youth in the current research had high scores on both their host North American culture and on the ethnic culture of origin, which suggests that they are integrated into society. They were no statistically significant differences in the acculturation patterns between males and females.

Focus group data was electronically recorded and field notes were taken by a co-facilitator. The data from the focus groups was transcribed and key themes were brought to light using ATLAS.ti. Data from the focus groups suggest that youth utilize various strategies to socialize into their religious and ethnic culture through Muslim schools, peers, family, Mosques, and traveling back to their country. Their peers and media played a major role in their acculturation into American society. There were differences in future expectation, freedom, and responsibilities for male and female youth.

Implications: This study provides research based knowledge from the perspectives of youth on the challenges they face, the way they navigate the host American culture of their peers, education system, and the ethnic culture of their family and religious community. The findings suggest development of culturally sensitive programs for immigrant Muslim youth and future research with this population.