| This study examines the relationship between social capital and acculturative stress in a sample of the Canadian Iraqi-Christian community based on age, income, education, and gender. The dependent variable in this study was acculturative stress while the independent variables included measures of social capital described as constructs based on factor analysis and demographic variables. Five hypotheses were generated, and data was collected from 326 Iraqi Christians residing in Southern Ontario, Canada, who completed a set of questionnaires administrated by the researcher of this study.;The second layer of the analysis investigated the specific interrelationships between the independent variables and each individual construct of the acculturative stress instrument. This layer of the analysis provided a better understanding of the complex relationships between the dependent and independent variables. For this purpose, six logistic regression models were developed: (1) AS experiencing stereotypes, (2) AS change in values, (3) AS language competencies, (4) AS feeling unappreciated , (5) AS experiencing discrimination, (6) AS identification with country of origin. Each model tested an individual construct of acculturative stress as a dependent variable and against the independent variables of the study (age, education, gender, income, and the six social-capital constructs). A binary score was computed for each acculturative-stress construct, and the distribution was split at the median within each construct. The third layer evaluated each factor from the social-capital instrument and the demographic variables as predictors on the binary outcome for the individual construct of acculturative stress by splitting the sample according to gender to understand the source of stress for each gender.;The results of this study in relation to the first, second, fourth, and, fifth hypotheses were consistent with existing social-capital literature on health, which considers social capital as resources that reduce psychological stressors and improve the health and well-being of individuals. In effect, because the participants of this study enjoy social capital, they do not experience high level of acculturative stress. The moderate level of acculturative stress they do experience is due to their interaction with people from the dominant culture. However, the results of this study in relation to the third hypothesis were inconsistent with previous literature.;This is one of the few studies that introduces the concept of social capital to the field of social work, considering social capital as a source of social integration and as means of economic success. Social capital is also essential for policy development to support diversity inclusion and social cohesion in a multicultural society. This study connects the concept of social capital to the psychological health of immigrants by considering social capital as a predictive factor of acculturative stress. This investigation developed its acculturation model as involving three levels of interaction by the immigrant. The micro (individual) level includes age, education, gender, ethnicity, and religion as important factors that shape an individual's identity. The mezzo (community) level includes family, extended family, friendship, and ethnic and religious groups. The macro (societal) level includes economic status, socio-political status, and cultural characteristics of the host country. Also, this study links social-work practice with immigrant communities from the Middle East to northern social-work practice.;Three layers of analysis were implemented to test each hypothesis. The first layer tested the predictability of social-capital constructs and the demographic variables on the overall acculturative-stress score. Using logistic regression, an "Acculturative Stress Main Model" was developed to test the predictability of the social-capital constructs and demographic variables on the overall acculturative-stress score. A binary score was created by splitting the sum of responses to all acculturative stress at the median score. The range of the acculturative-stress sum score was 1 to 100 with a median score of39. This means participants showed a moderate level of acculturative stress.;Finally, this study provides suggestions about how this examination can serve to increase knowledge in the field of social work and open new avenues of study, research, and social-work practice in areas such as social capital, the immigrant experience, settlement social work, and appropriate training for "settlement social workers" in the curricula of schools of social work. Furthermore, the results of this study will help in developing individual and policy strategies that may increase bridging social capital for immigrants on the individual and community levels. While there is currently adequate work on and support of bonding social capital, there is presently insufficient research and policy application on bridging social capital. This study suggests that efforts at bonding alone fail to provide the county with the full benefits of social capital that could be available through the cultivation of effective bridging. |
