Flourishing among Japanese Immigrants: A Positive Approach to Understanding Psychosocial Adaptation

Abstract

Immigration can be an opportunity-maximizing and resource-creating process for immigrants. This cross-sectional survey study examined flourishing, the optimal state of psychosocial adaptation, in relation to social capital and acculturation, among a sample of 380 Japanese immigrants who lived in Texas. The study revealed that well-acculturated Japanese immigrants who enjoy U.S. culture and traditions as well as have more online and face-to-face contacts were more likely to have higher levels of flourishing. The findings have practical implications for social work practice in terms of the use of immigrants' social capital to enhance their acculturation process and enable them to flourish.

Keywords::

• Japanese immigrants
• immigration experience
• psychosocial adaptation
• flourishing
• social capital
• acculturation