Acculturation, ethnic identity, and psychological well-being of Albanian-American immigrants in the United States

ABSTRACT

This study examined the relationship between acculturation, ethnic identity, and psychological well-being of the Albanian-American immigrant community in United States. A total of 139 Albanian-American immigrants aged 21–35 years old participated in the study. In order to utilize the data, participants filled out four different surveys, including a demographic questionnaire, the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM), the Vancouver Index of Acculturation (VIA), and Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being scale. A correlational design relying on cross-sectional survey data and multiple regression analysis was used to study the correlations between acculturation, ethnic identity, and psychological well-being. The results showed that ethnic identity, acculturation, and psychological well-being were positively correlated to each other. In addition, the results showed that both ethnic identity and acculturation affected the psychological well-being of Albanian-American immigrants in the United States. This relationship was further moderated by gender and length of residency in the United States and mediated through graduate school education. The results of this study will help clinicians, social workers, and policy makers that work with immigrants to better understand the psychological consequences of immigration due to acculturation and ethnic identity factors.

KEYWORDS:

• Migration
• acculturation
• ethnic identity
• psychological well-being

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Albina Balidemaj is an instructor of Psychology at the Rochester Institute of Technology Kosovo campus in Prishtina. Previously, she has worked with the World Health Organization and Forum for Civic Initiatives serving at-risk communities and families. She holds a PhD in International Community and Family Studies from Clemson University College of Behavioral, Social, and Health Sciences.

Mark Small is Chair and Professor in the Department of Youth, Family and Community Studies and Director of the Institute on Family and Neighbourhood Life. Previously, he was research professor in the College of Law and assistant director at the Institute on Families in Society at the University of South Carolina. Prof. Small has served as principal investigator on grant projects funded by agencies within the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture and private foundations within South Carolina to build the capacity of rural faith- and community-based grassroots groups and non-profit organizations to serve at-risk youth and families. In total, he has received over 9 million dollars in funding to address poverty and improve family well-being. Prof. Small has also received a Fulbright scholarship twice to teach community development in the Czech Republic (2004) and more recently in Albania (2017).

ORCID

Albina Balidemaj http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2022-2420