The Relationship Between Acculturation and Psychosocial Outcomes Among Migrants in Switzerland, and the Moderating Role of Meaning-Making

Diplôme Master The Relationship Between Acculturation and Psychosocial Outcomes Among Migrants in Switzerland, and the Moderating Role of Meaning-Making eng 2026 author Rusch Moana Jolanta 415100 director Gaultier Sydney 428517 Section de psychologie (PSICO) Despite migration becoming an increasingly important topic across Europe, empirical evidence on acculturation and its links to psychological adjustment outside the U.S. remains limited. Furthermore, the field has emphasized the need to include social and process-based variables to address empirical inconsistencies. Responding to these gaps, this thesis examines the relationship between acculturation and psychosocial outcomes in migrants in Switzerland and is the first to explore the intersection of acculturation and narrative identity by introducing meaning-making (reflection on past experiences to extract personal significance) as a moderator. We hypothesized that host culture orientation would be positively associated with psychosocial indicators, while origin culture orientation would show no associations. We further expected no differences in psychosocial indicators between migrants following assimilation versus integration strategies. Finally, we predicted that meaning-making would moderate the relationship between acculturation and psychological outcomes. Data were collected from N = 58 adults, composed of 31 migrants (first- and second-generation) and 27 non-migrants, using an online questionnaire assessing acculturation, psychosocial indicators, and meaning-making through self-defining memories. Non-parametric analyses were conducted. Results showed no correlations between acculturation orientations and most psychosocial indicators. However, assimilation was positively associated with support from friends, while origin culture orientation was negatively associated with support from a significant other. No differences were observed between individuals following integration and assimilation strategies. Importantly, meaning-making moderated the relationship between host culture orientation and sense of coherence. These findings highlight the importance of host culture orientation in migrant adjustment and of narrative meaning-making in protecting migrants’ sense of self-continuity. Dewey 150 Maitrise universitaire en psychologie 108 Section de psychologie 71 false 45cb2ce3-ca99-4be7-b2f5-0869f4171458 Master thesis Restricted Rusch_Moana_Jolanta_Mémoire_janvier.pdf 2982972 application/pdf 4a5173afc682a27fea7bc05b3b4b3456d68acffcd19969236f76afb93f3aa49e restrictedAccess Faculté de psychologie et des sciences de l'éducation / Section de psychologie

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The Relationship Between Acculturation and Psychosocial Outcomes Among Migrants in Switzerland, and the Moderating Role of Meaning-Making				2026	7	0

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Rusch, Moana Jolanta

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