The Effects of Acculturation and Acculturative Stress on the Social Exclusion of African Immigrants

Background and Purpose:
Findings indicate that African immigrants experience social exclusion that encompasses
economic, structural, and sociocultural domains, and is associated with negative outcomes on
overall wellbeing including mental health challenges, financial instability, and long-term illness.
Upon arrival in a new country, immigrants undergo an adjustment process which inherently
involves acculturation. While previous research demonstrates that acculturation has been linked
to enhanced belonging, it also presents stressors, known as acculturative stress, resulting from
factors such as family separation, language barriers, and unfamiliar cultural norms. Acculturative
stress is associated with detrimental mental and physical health consequences, with potential
implications on immigrant integration. With a 246% increase of African immigrants over the
span of 19 years in the U.S., the aim of this study was to extend the findings on acculturation and
integration outcomes by examining the impact of acculturation and acculturative stress on social
exclusion within this demographic.
Methods:
Data for this study was collected through a cross-sectional study among first- and second-
generation immigrants from African countries (N =599). Acculturation was measured using the
Vancouver Index of Acculturation with two subscales; orientation toward mainstream culture
(ɑ= .86) and orientation toward heritage culture (ɑ= .89). Acculturative stress was measured
using the Social, Attitudinal, Familial, Environment (SAFE) Acculturative Stress Scale (ɑ = .95).
Social exclusion was measured using an adapted version of the Social Exclusion Scale developed
by the Netherlands Institute for Social Research (ɑ = .83). Correlations, T-tests, and linear
regression were performed to analyze the relationship between acculturation, acculturative stress,
and social exclusion using STATA 18. Control variables included discrimination, biological sex,
age, marital status, annual household income level, and immigrant generation.
Results:
Mainstream and heritage acculturation were both negatively correlated with social exclusion (r =
-.30, p < .001), while acculturative stress was positively correlated (r = .32, p < .001). T-tests
revealed significant differences between first- and second-generation immigrants in social
exclusion (t = -3.2, p < .01) and acculturative stress (t = -2.0, p < .05), with second-generation
immigrants showing higher levels of social exclusion and acculturative stress. Results from
multivariate analyses revealed that orientation toward mainstream culture was significantly
associated with lower levels of social exclusion (𝛽 = -.34, p < .001), and orientation with
heritage culture had similar results (𝛽 = -.26, p < .01). Higher levels of acculturative stress were
associated with higher levels of social exclusion (𝛽 = .01, p < .001). Among controls, household
income and discrimination were also significantly associated with social exclusion (p <.001).
Conclusion and Implications:
Findings suggest that while acculturation was a protective factor for social exclusion within the
sample, acculturative stress increased risk for exclusion. Efforts to decrease social exclusion
could be focused on mitigating stressors in the adjustment process through development and
availability of community resources to minimize strain and facilitate integration of African
immigrants in the U.S. Future research can further explore whether discrimination and income
operate as potential mechanisms through which acculturation relates to social exclusion.