The relationship between acculturative stress and spirituality among Chinese immigrant college students in the United States

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between acculturative stress and spirituality among Chinese immigrant college students in the United States. The sample of this study was obtained by utilizing a convenience sample of 63 first-generation Chinese immigrant college students. The participants each received a self-administered questionnaire which was developed to measure their acculturative stress level and spiritual well-being level. The results indicated that there was a significant correlation between acculturative stress level and spiritual well-being. The respondents who had a higher level of spiritual well-being reported having a lower level of acculturative stress. Those who attended church activity on a regular basis, at least once a week, also reported a higher level of spiritual well-being. Findings from this study suggest that spirituality and church involvement could be used as a coping strategy in the face of acculturative stress among Chinese immigrant college students.