Factors Influencing the Acculturation of Burmese, Bhutanese, and Iraqi Refugees Into American Society: Cross-Cultural Comparisons

We examined the acculturation experiences of Burmese, Bhutanese, and Iraqi refugees living in central Virginia based on the model of acculturation developed by J. W. Berry. We identified themes in examining the effects of English language proficiency, level of social support, financial stability, and expectations about and satisfaction with life in the United States on acculturative stress. Language difficulty and barriers to accessing education, employment opportunities, and health care caused stress in all cultural groups. Nearly all refugees were happy they had immigrated due to the personal freedom, safety, and hope for the future they found in the United States.