A Study on the Acculturation of Elderly Asian Immigrants in the United States Based on Acculturation Theory

Abstract

This study innovatively examines the influence of collectivism as a cultural tendency on the adaptation of elderly Asian immigrants to U.S. society, highlighting a novel finding that collectivism facilitates adaptation by enhancing willingness to accept community support, which contrasts with common assumptions in individualistic host cultures. Using a quantitative research approach, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 50 Asian immigrants aged 65 and above from China, Japan, and South Korea, measuring their collectivist/individualist tendencies and cultural adaptation attitudes. Key findings include: (1) Most elderly Asian immigrants retained strong collectivist tendencies (mean score: 3.8/5); (2) Collectivism showed a significant positive correlation with willingness to accept community support (r=0.65, p<0.01), while individualism exhibited a negative correlation (r=-0.55, p<0.01); (3) Regression analysis confirmed that collectivism positively predicted openness to social support ( =0.35). The results suggest that collectivism can serve as a facilitator of cultural adaptation, providing a theoretical foundation for community-based intervention programs targeting elderly immigrants.