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Acculturative Stress and Depression in an Elderly Arabic Sample

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Abstract

Acculturative stress and relevant demographic variables, including immigration status, English skills, level of education, age, gender, country of origin, and years since immigration to the U. S. are examined along with their relationship to depressive symptoms. The 200 Arab-American and recent Arab immigrant participants ranged from age 60–92 and represented eight countries of origin. Most had limited fluency in English. Arabic versions of the Multi-dimensional Acculturative Stress Inventory (MASI) and Geriatric Depression Scale were administered. MASI and GDS results indicated greater degrees of acculturative stress and depression for those with a refugee or temporary resident status. More recent entry into the U.S. also predicted greater stress, while greater levels of education and English skills predicted lower levels of stress and depression. Composite stress levels and the nature of stress varied by country of origin. Although demographic variables were predictive of depression when examined separately, multiple regression analyses revealed that perceived acculturative stress, particularly pressure to learn English, provided a notable increment in prediction of depression over the demographic variables.

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Notes

  1. Analyses reported in this paper were conducted across religious groups. A second set of analyses was conducted without Christians; however the results were unchanged. These results are available upon request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Michigan-Dearborn, 4901 Evergreen, Dearborn, MI, 48128, USA

    Nancy Howells Wrobel & Robert W. Hymes

  2. Behavioral Care Solutions, Madison Heights, MI, USA

    Mohamed F. Farrag

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  1. Nancy Howells Wrobel
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  2. Mohamed F. Farrag
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  3. Robert W. Hymes
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Correspondence to Nancy Howells Wrobel.

Additional information

Funding was provided by the Administration on Aging, Grant 90AM2645, and administered by the Wayne County Senior Citizens’ Services in conjunction with The Senior Alliance—Area Agency on Aging 1-C.

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Wrobel, N.H., Farrag, M.F. & Hymes, R.W. Acculturative Stress and Depression in an Elderly Arabic Sample. J Cross Cult Gerontol 24, 273–290 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10823-009-9096-8

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