Acculturation of Children as Experienced by Foreign Mothers Studying in the Philippines

Abstract

Acculturation presents numerous unique experiences that can influence people’s well-being. The Philippines, with its socialeconomic, political, and educational motivations, hosts a vast number of internationally accredited higher education institutions that attract many foreign students who relocate for study with their families. These individuals together with their families undergo the acculturation process as they enter their new setting. The current study explores the lived experiences of 13 foreign mothers from 8 institutions of higher learning, whose children were acculturated. Using the qualitative method of descriptive phenomenological analysis, seven themes and four subthemes emerged. The findings of the study portray the mothers’ experiences on their children’s acculturation. The mothers reported their children’s joy in learning new languages and excitement in learning a new culture even though they experienced culture shock. Cultural conflicts, independence and relationships, parental and family conflicts, and cultural loss were presented as issues and challenges arising from the acculturation process. The results were analyzed through the lens of the bi-dimensional model of acculturation. Children who embraced integration strategy thrived well in the foreign setting contributing to psychological health and overall well-being.