Relational Patterns of Acculturative Stress and Psychological Distress in a Multiethnic U.S. Immigrant Sample: A Cross-Sectional Correlational Analysis

Abstract

Ahmed F Alanazi

The United States currently hosts over 44 million immigrants, representing approximately 13.6% of the national population, yet the psychological mechanisms linking acculturative stress to mental health outcomes remain insufficiently quantified, particularly within multiethnic samples. This correlational study examined the relationship between acculturative stress, perceived discrimination, social support, and psychological well-being (operationalized as depression, anxiety, and life satisfaction) among a sample of 312 immigrant adults residing in the U.S. Data were collected using validated self-report measures including the SAFE acculturative stress scale, CES-D-10, GAD-7, SWLS, and MSPSS, and were analyzed using Pearson correlations and hierarchical multiple regression. Results revealed a significant positive correlation between acculturative stress and depressive symptoms (r = .52, p < .001) and anxiety (r = .48, p < .001), and a negative correlation with life satisfaction (r = -.45, p < .001). Perceived discrimination partially mediated the acculturative stress–well-being link, accounting for approximately 31% of the total effect on depression, while social support emerged as a significant moderator, buffering the adverse effects of acculturative stress. Demographic covariates (age, education, English proficiency) accounted for 8% of the variance in psychological distress, and acculturative stress explained an additional 24% beyond demographic factors. These findings underscore that acculturative stress is a robust correlate of psychological distress among U.S. immigrants, with direct implications for culturally sensitive mental health interventions. Limitations include the cross-sectional design, which precludes causal inference, and potential self-report bias.

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