Joel M. Hanna

Migration and acculturation among Samoans: some sources of stress and support

Daily excretion of the stress hormone, epinephrine, has been employed to study potential stressors associated with acculturation and migration. Young men and women from Samoan communities in Hawaii (HI), American Samoa (AS) and Western Samoa (WS) which differ in exposure to American culture were included. Psychosocial factors associated with elevations in hormone excretion were assumed to be stressors, while associations with reduced excretions were assumed to be supportive or buffers. Hormone excretion levels were similar in all locations, but there were different associations which could be attributed to migration and acculturation. Among all migrants (HI) ethnic networks were apparent stressors, while a high degree of community involvement was stressful for migrant women. In sites of culture contact (HI, AS) certain adult members of the extended family were supportive, as was a superior knowledge of Samoan cultural concepts. For women in Samoa (WS, AS) community involvement was supportive. In contrast for men in WS and AS, but not in HI, being of mixed ancestry or having close family of mixed ancestry was stressful. It is concluded that hormone analysis can provide meaningful clues concerning social stressors in acculturating or migrant communities. Also that migration or acculturation do not necessarily result in increased levels of stress.

Selective migration from Samoa: A longitudinal study of pre‐migration differences in social and psychological characteristics

In 1981 extensive questionnaire and interview data were collected on some 100 young Samoan adults. Five years later in 1986 we determined their whereabouts and divided the data in accordance with migration status. The answers of the 35 who had migrated in the intervening period were contrasted to those 65 who remained in Samoa. The migrants differed in several distinct areas. Migrants reported a higher degree of peer-reliance as a personal adaptive strategy. Migrants also reported larger numbers of individuals in social support networks, a higher quality of support and more community involvement. They also report less expressive display of anger. Those who did not migrate reported a slightly better view of life in Samoa and abroad, as well as better relations with their friends and neighbors. These findings support a hypothesis that migrants are pre-selected to fit into migrant communities and do not appear to be misfits who are unhappy with life in Samoa.

Psychosocial factors in blood pressure variation: a comparative study of young Samoans.

Traditional peoples contacting modern cultures frequently experience increased levels of blood pressure. The aim of this investigation was to identify some acculturation-related psychosocial factors which might contribute to those elevations. Young Samoans living in a traditional village, in modernizing American Samoa, and as migrants in Hawaii were studied. Casual blood pressure, anthropometric measurements, and extensive interview data were collected. The most important factor predicting variation in blood pressure was body mass (BMI). This finding was particularly evident among the acculturated and migrant Samoans. In those locations womens abandonment of breast feeding may contribute to their higher BMI. Among acculturated and migrant women, measures of social support favored lower blood pressures. Among men in all locations a greater number of close social ties was linked to higher blood pressures with the exception of ties with parents. Parental ties were linked to substantially lower blood pressures. A knowledge of Samoan traditions favored lower blood pressure among migrant men, while knowledge of American culture favored higher pressures. Coping strategies and complaint behavior were also significant contributors in all locations.