Sociocultural adaptation of Brazilian immigrants in the Basque Country: Well-being and acculturation

This study examined the process of socio-cultural adaptation in immigrants, and its relationship with psychological adjustment and acculturation strategies. A total of 91 Brazilian immigrants in the Basque Country were interviewed. Measured variables included socio-cultural adaptation difficulties (SCAS), socio-economic difficulties, affectivity (PNA), health-related quality of life (CVRS-SF-12), life satisfaction, perceived control, interpersonal trust, perceived social support from host society and co-nationals, and acculturation strategies (behaviour and attitudes). Two dimensions of socio-cultural adaptation were found: cultural learning and communication and social distance management. Socio-cultural difficulties were greater at the beginning of the adaptation process, decreasing over the length of residence, and were associated with socio-economic difficulties, social support, hedonic well-being, and perceived control. Finally, whereas behavioural separation was related to more socio-cultural adaptation problems, at the attitudinal level subjects' marginalisation impeded cultural learning and communication. These findings confirm the existence of two basic types of socio-cultural adaptation: fast socio-cultural learning, and protective factors.