Acculturative Stress of Hispanics: Loss and Challenge

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Journal of Counseling and Development

Volume

73

Publication Date

1995

First Page

390

Last Page

396

Abstract

Proposes a definition of acculturative stress that addresses loss of social support, self-esteem, and identity among Hispanic immigrants (IMGs). Six distinctive differences between IMGs who are White, Protestant, and northern/western European and IMGs who are Hispanic are outlined. These unique characteristics of the Hispanic immigration experience are (1) discrimination based on skin color, (2) Hispanic emphasis on social and family ties, (3) illegal immigration, (4) geographic proximity, (5) legacy of armed conflict, and (6) Hispanic reliance on physical labor. Suggestions are given for counseling practice that consider these differences. Because Hispanics continue to use Spanish, and because language is an integral part of the counseling process, care must be taken to provide services in the language chosen by the client, as noted by the American Psychological Association Office of Ethnic Minority Affairs (1993).

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