Master of Arts Thesis, 2008

Wesleyan's competitive graduate program includes prior undergrads receiving a Master's degree in their fifth year as well as students from other schools completing the program.

The Role of Acculturation and Psychological Stress in Substance Use Among Students: The Perspective of Foreign-Born College Students
                Azeb Gebre

Using Berry's model of acculturation, the current study investigated the association between acculturation strategy and substance use among college students. Acculturation was assessed using the Stephenson Multigroup Acculturation Scale (SMAS), a multidimensional acculturation scale that produces four acculturation outcomes: assimilation, separation, marginalization, and integration. In addition, the study examined the role of perceived discrimination by the dominant group and perceived rejection by members of one's own ethnic group in substance use. Results revealed that perceived rejection by the in-group moderated the link between orientation towards the dominant society and frequency of marijuana use. In particular, adherence to the dominant culture predicted marijuana use only among participants who perceived rejection by members of their own ethnic group. Higher adherence to the dominant culture predicted greater frequency of marijuana use as well when participants also perceived higher discrimination from the dominant cultural group. The findings of this study suggest that substance use among foreign-born college students may be a function of acculturation style and psychological stress stemming from either perceived rejection from members of the immigrants' ethnic group or perceived discrimination by members of the dominant culture.

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