Acculturation and Personality as Predictors of Stress in Japanese and Japanese-Americans

Abstract

Abstract The experience of stress and personality variables among 114 Japanese and Japanese-American students undergoing differing degrees of acculturation was studied. Self-esteem, introversion-extraversion, and locus of control were measured with standard instruments. A stress scale designed for immigrant students was used as well as new scales for acculturation and values. Students were grouped into first, second, and third/later generations. Results from several analyses indicated that different generational groups reported different levels of stress, values, and acculturation. In addition, generational groups differed in self-esteem and locus of control: First-generation students experienced the most stress, were low in self-esteem, and were more externally oriented than third/later generation students. Also, self-esteem and acculturation level were good predictors of stress in all generations.