EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF MIGRATION-DRIVEN CULTURAL CHANGE ON THE PSYCHOSOCIAL WELL-BEING OF EARLY ADULTS (24–30 YEARS)

Abstract

This study explores the impact of acculturation strategies on the psychological well-being of Pakistani migrants aged 24 to 30 living in European, American, Asian, Oceanian, and Gulf countries. A quantitative approach was used to collect data from 170 participants through a structured questionnaire that included demographic details, Berry’s Acculturation Strategies, the Stephenson Multigroup Acculturation Scale (SMAS), and the Ryff Psychological Well-Being Scale (RPWBS). Participants were selected using snowball sampling.

Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics, correlation, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and Spearman’s rho, revealed no significant differences in psychological well-being across various acculturation strategies. However, significant positive correlations were found between psychological well-being and both ethnic society immersion (ESI) and dominant society immersion (DSI). These results suggest that engagement with either cultural domain enhances well-being, with integration being the most preferred acculturation strategy (65.3%).

Additionally, social integration was positively associated with cultural identity and well-being, highlighting the importance of social connections in migrants' mental health. Coping mechanisms, such as resilience, language learning, and cultural participation, showed a positive but weak correlation with well-being, indicating that individual coping strategies alone are insufficient without support from external social networks and inclusive communities.