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Abstract
Acculturative stress experienced by East Asian international young adults is indirectly associated with poorer psychological health via difficulties in emotional regulation (DERs).
We found that acculturative stress was associated with greater DERs, which in turn were linked to heightened depressive and anxiety symptoms and decreased life satisfaction.
Introduction
Acculturative stress refers to the psychophysiological responses individuals experience when adjusting to a new culture (Berry, 2006).
Studies found that maladaptive aspects of acculturative stress were linked to poorer psychological health and well-being (Mayorga et al., 2018; Amlashi et al., 2025).
East Asian international young adults may be particularly vulnerable due to the prevalence and the surge of targeted racism since COVID-19 in the U.S. (Chen et al., 2020).
The heightened acculturative stress may pose difficulties in emotional regulation (DERs; Cheung et al., 2020).
Studies demonstrated that acculturative stress was associated with greater DERs, which in turn were related to poorer psychological health (Mayorga et al., 2018).
Conceptualized as a multidimensional construct, DER encompasses limitations in (1) nonacceptance of emotional responses, (2) difficulties engaging in goal-directed behavior, (3) impulse control difficulties, (4) lack of emotional awareness, (5) limited access to emotional regulation strategies, and (6) lack of emotional clarity (Gratz & Roemer, 2004).
To date, no study has examined whether and how aspects of DERs may mediate the relationships between acculturative stress and psychological health among East Asian international young adults.
Current Study
The current study examines (1) the associations between acculturative stress and psychological health/ life satisfaction among East Asian international young adults and (2) which distinct DER factors are linked to the mechanistic pathway from acculturative stress to psychological health/ life satisfaction.
By identifying distinct regulatory mechanisms, the study aims to clarify pathways underlying psychological vulnerability in this population.
Depressive Symptoms: We found that difficulties engaging in goal-directed behavior, limited access to emotion regulation strategies, and a lack of emotional clarity mediated the relationship between acculturative stress and depressive symptoms. Specifically, acculturative stress was associated with greater levels of difficulties engaging in goal-directed behavior (b = 1.01, SE = .26, p < .001), and limited access to emotional regulation strategies (b = 1.54, SE = .23, p < .001), and a lack of emotional clarity (b = 1.33, SE = .21, p < .001), which in turn was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms (b = .26 - .67, SE = .10 - .14, p < .05).
Anxiety Symptoms: We found that limited access to emotion regulation strategies and a lack of emotional clarity mediated the relationship between acculturative stress and anxiety symptoms. Specifically, acculturative stress was associated with greater levels of limited access to emotional regulation strategies (b = 1.54, SE = .23, p < .001) and lack of emotional clarity (b = 1.33, SE = .21, p < .001), which in turn was associated with higher levels of anxiety symptoms (b = .22 - .68, SE = .11 - .13, p < .05).
Life Satisfaction: We found that limited access to emotion regulation strategies mediated the relationship between acculturative stress and life satisfaction. Specifically, acculturative stress was associated with greater levels of limited access to emotional regulation strategies (b = 1.54, SE = .23, p < .001), which in turn was associated with lower levels of life satisfaction (b = -.64, SE = .19, p = .001).
Discussion
Discussion
Our study is the first to consider the multidimensional aspects of DERs and identify which distinct factors contribute to the maladaptive link between acculturative stress and poor psychological health/ life satisfaction among East Asian international young adults.
Specifically, limited emotional clarity and limited access to emotional regulation strategies are risk factors.
Clinically, focusing on enhancing individuals’ ability to identify and effectively regulate emotions may be especially beneficial for East Asian international young adults.
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