Postpartum Depression and Acculturation Among U.S. Immigrant Women of Arabic Descent

Download or read book Postpartum Depression and Acculturation Among U.S. Immigrant Women of Arabic Descent written by Dalia Alhasanat and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 135 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There are four acculturation strategies: (a) integration, a strong identification and deep involvement with the host society with the desire to maintain the original ethnic identity and culture; (b) assimilation, a positive relation with the host society and relinquish of all ties to their own culture; (c) separation, the tendency to focus exclusively on maintaining individual's own cultural values and the practices of their ethnic group, with little or no desire to be a part of the host society; and (d) marginalization, the loss or absence of contact with both the culture of origin and that of the dominant society. Method: Using a cross-sectional correlational descriptive design, a sample of 115 U.S. immigrant women of Arabic descent were enrolled from clinics in Dearborn, MI. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Multi-dimensional Acculturative Stress Inventory, the Acculturation Rating Scale for Arabic Americans-II, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale between 1-12 months postpartum. Data were analyzed using correlational and multiple linear regression analyses. Results: Women had a mean age of 29±5 years and were 5±4 months postpartum. Women have been in the U.S. for 7±6 years and had a mean education of 12±4 years. The majority of women had an annual household income of less than $40,000 (88%), were unemployed (80%), and preferred Arabic language for interview (68%). Specific Aim 1: Higher levels of acculturative stress (p= .003) and lower levels of social support (p