Acculturative stress and psychological distress during COVID-19, among racial-ethnic minority immigrants in the US

Guided by Berry's conceptualization of acculturative stress and Hovey's acculturative stress framework, this cross-sectional study examines the relationship between migratory acculturative stress and psychological distress among racial-ethnic minority US immigrants (n = 202). The multiple linear regression indicated that respondents reported moderate psychological distress, acculturative stress, social support, and COVID impact. Pre-migration and post-migration acculturative stress factors predicted higher psychological distress; however, only the subscale of socioeconomic stressors remained statistically significant once the COVID impact scale was also modeled. Future research and practice efforts need to attend to the cumulative impact of acculturative stress and pandemic disruptions inhibiting the psychological well-being of racially minoritized immigrants. COVID disruptions explained the most variance in psychological distress.This study examines acculturative stress experienced in the pre and post migration and its association with the psychological distress.This study examines acculturative stress and psychological distress in racial minority immigrants.Acculturative stress was associated with psychological distress among the sample population.Socioeconomic concerns in the host country were associated with higher distress.