Russian Speaking Immigrant Group Summary

Cultural Particularities in Adaptation Process within Russian Speaking Immigrant Group.

Many people alone and in groups move to United States from Russia and former Soviet Republics seeking a better life. They are in search of higher and more stable income, escaping from insecure economic and political situation and hardships with raising their family. An individual or family relocating to US is about to undergo tremendous changes in their life. Besides the normal adjustments associated with moving—setting up new home, finding new acquaintances, familiarizing themselves with unknown cultural environment—new expatriates face traumatic experiences. Some studies reported significant levels of psychological distress and other mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, which were linked to Russian speaking emigrant’s problems relating to adaptation and acculturation in the US.
A large number of these immigrants are known to be at significant risk for poor living conditions, economic exploitation, and prejudicial treatment from their host locations, which does not help them to stay mentally and emotionally stable. As a result, mental health
J. W. Berry states, "self-imposed withdrawal from the dominant culture" (p. 22). People experience doubts in their decision to immigrate, deep feeling of homesickness and nostalgia. Rejection is followed by deculturation. Berry states, "striking out against the dominant culture accompanied by stress and alienation (a sense of "not here and not there")" (p. 22). At this point two strategies of behavior are adopted by newcomers. The first one is avoidance. It is used as a coping strategy to protect themselves from feeling inadequate, especially during interactions with American people. Another one is distraction, in the form of keeping themselves constantly busy -- working long hours, attending various classes, helping relatives and friends, socializing only with Russian-speaking