Date of Award

5-2026

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School of Social Work

First Reader/Committee Chair

Armando Barragán, PhD, MSW

Abstract

Immigrants are faced with various challenges as they adjust to a new life in a foreign country and undergo acculturation. The acculturative stressors experienced by immigrants increase the risk of mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Yet, mental health services are underutilized by the immigrant population despite a high need for mental health support. The underutilization of mental health services can be attributed to barriers like stigma, language barriers, and a lack of culturally competent care. This study explores the acculturation impacts on immigrant mental health and identifies the barriers to accessing mental health services to gain a deeper understanding of how to improve accessibility and ensure mental health services are equitable for immigrants. The data collection tool this study utilizes is the Combined Acculturation and Stress Assessment Tool (CASAT). The CASAT measures acculturative stress and can determine which culture the participant has adopted since arriving in the United States. The survey will be administered to a minimum of 30 participants, and purposive sampling will be utilized to ensure that participants meet the criteria for the study. The multiple regression analysis will be utilized to determine the relationships between acculturation, stress, and mental health utilization. The data collected from this survey will provide insights that will compare the acculturative stress with their adopted culture. The findings will provide a deeper understanding of the acculturative stress experienced within this community, and reveal the barriers immigrants face receiving mental health services. Implications from this study can better inform mental health providers and policy makers of the pressing mental health needs of the immigrant communities residing in San Bernardino County.

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