THE PATTERNS OF ADAPTATION AMONG VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN A MID-SIZED COMMUNITY (ASSIMILATION)
Abstract
The primary objective of this study is to examine the Vietnamese refugees resettled in a mid-sized community to gain a better understanding of refugee adaptation by exploring the following issues: (1) Are refugees just another group of voluntary immigrants? (2) Is assimilation the only possible outcome of refugees' adaptation? (3) What are the relations among various dimensions of adaptations? (4) Is the pattern of adaptation pre-determined by refugees' attributes upon arrival? (5) What are the differences or similarities between middle city refugees and big city refugees? The concept of adaptation is conceptualized in three dimensions (social, psychological, and economic) through various indicators. Each dimension is treated as a continuum ranging from pluralism to assimilation. Both ethnographic and survey methods were used to collect and to analyze the data. Four research models were examined by LISREL analysis: the adaptation model, the attribute model, the transition model, and the trauma model. We found that first, refugees are different from voluntary immigrants because of the effects of trauma in adaptation. Second, both assimilation and pluralism exist among the refugees, though some general tendencies can be found. Third, psychologically and socially refugees as a group are more pluralistic than assimilated, but economically they are more assimilated than pluralistic and there is little effect of economic adaptation on either social or psychological adaptation. Fourth, there is no justification for the overuse of the attribute model, while the transition model seems to be more preferable. Fifth, middle-sized city refugees are different from big-city refugees regarding their different tendencies for adaptation because of the lack of concentration, ethnic businesses and services, and the social climate in mid-sized cities.
Degree
Ph.D.
Subject Area
Minority & ethnic groups|Sociology
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