Factors That Contribute to acculturating Somali Women to American Society

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Acknowledgement

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

Declaration

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Abstract

In the past years, there have been massive migrations of the people from African countries to the various states of US. The researcher indicates during the last seven years, there has been a massive flow of Somali refugees and immigrants making their new homes in California with the majority residing in San Diego. In this context, California has welcomed African immigrants and family members residing in other states within the United States. The prospect of Somali immigrants and refugees returning to their homelands is scarce. There is constant war, civic, strife, and economic crisis that make the return to Somalia unenthusiastic. The purpose of this policy study is to educate about the importance that America continue embracing and welcoming Somalis into the community and assist in their acculturation process. The research study is undertaken by applying the qualitative method and survey research in order to obtain the relatively accurate results for the study.

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY1

Promising Practices1

Key Terms2

Research objective3

Research Approach3

Study Design and Methods4

Qualitative Research5

Research Strategy5

Data Sources6

Surveys6

CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION8

Analysis of Survey8

Recommendations for Further Research10

Discussion11

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS17

Limitations of this Study17

Implications for Future Research19

Clinical Implications20

Recommendations21

REFERENCES22

BIBLIOGRAPHY26

APPENDIX29

CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Promising Practices

This study tests a unique conceptual model (Figure 1) including factors supported by the existing literature and informed by the framework utilized to explain the factors. The basis of the research at hand is to assess the significance of the fact that the American nations welcome and accept the Somali women into their own communities and help them in the process of acculturation. Acculturation is considered a latent variable affected by several demographic, cultural and traditional variables and concepts which operate at the psychosocial and behavioural levels of the social ecological model.

Acculturation is difficult to measure, but researchers have used various proxies such as adoption of the host culture, or retention of native health behaviours, attitudes and norms. The ability to speak English has been shown to be the most robust measure of acculturation. Additional measures include generation names and naming, history and politics, language, geography, marriages and extended families.

Factors explored with regards to acculturation in this study included predominant language, age at immigration and years of U.S. residency. These factors are selected because medical records often contain this information and also because Somali refugees have lived in the U.S. for a relatively short time, measuring generational status is not possible. Therefore, it has been more feasible and logical to undertake qualitative research method which pertains to the application of a comprehensive ...