Abstract
Purpose. This dissertation explored whether acculturation is a good predictor variable for psychological adjustment as measured by depression, anxiety and self-esteem and gender role attitudes among Asian American women. Method. A convenience sample was composed of 306 Asian American women in the Southern California areas. The study examined five variables: acculturation, depression, anxiety, self-esteem and gender role attitudes. In addition, a demographic questionnaire was utilized to gather background information of the participants in the study. Simple linear regression and Pearson correlations were performed to assess for the predictive ability of acculturation with psychological adjustment and gender role attitudes. Results. Simple linear regression indicated that acculturation was a moderate predictor of depressive symptoms, self-esteem and gender role attitudes. Acculturation was not a predictor of anxiety symptoms. Pearson correlations revealed that highly acculturated women reported lower levels of depressive symptoms and self-esteem. They also reported more egalitarian gender role attitudes. In addition, low acculturated women reported experiencing more depressive symptoms but higher self-esteem. In terms of gender role attitudes, the lower the acculturation level, the more likely these women adhere to more conservative gender role attitudes. Despite not finding a significant relationship between acculturation and anxiety, results indicated that the majority of the women in the sample reported anxiety levels in the moderate to severe range. Discussion. The findings revealed that our understanding of psychological adjustment and gender role attitudes among Asian American women is limited given that acculturation was found to be a moderate predictor. There appears to be other variables that need to be examined in future research to increase our understanding of this population. Also, it seems that Asian American women are experiencing some mental health symptoms because many of the participants presented with high levels of anxiety. Perhaps, the stressors connected to being a woman of color contributes to the high anxiety level present in the current sample. Regardless, the strength and resiliency is evident in this sample of women with their low rates of depression, high self-esteem and egalitarian gender role attitudes found with the majority of the sample.