Adjustment Case Study

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nSelected Article: “When a Somali-American Woman was attacked, Support came from an unlikely Source”

nSummary of the Selected Article

nAsma Jama is a 39-year old, Somali-American woman who lives in Minnesota. She is also a Muslim, hence; she is required to dress in a hijab. In October 2015, she encountered the difficult part of her life in America when during a dinner with her kin in Coon Rapids, Minnesota; another woman, Jodie Bruchard-Risch, attacked her (Davis, Esty-Kendall & Martinez, 2017). The main reason for the assault was that Jama was speaking Swahili contrary to Jodies wish to speak English. Precisely, Jama was smashed with a glass mug in her face. Consequently, she was admitted to hospital where she had about 17 stitches because of many injuries that she had sustained. Cultural adjustment is a serious challenge in the lives of minority groups because it causes psychological and social problems.

nBruchard-Risch was sentenced in a court of law as she was accused of felony physical attack where she pleaded guilty. In addition, she disclosed that her actions were fueled by racial bias against Jama and was imprisoned for 113 days (Davis, et al, 2017). Fortunately, after the legal process ended, Bruchard-Rischs sister decided to support Jama. Dawn Sahr is a 50-year old woman who opted to reach out to Jama after a year since the event took place. She was determined to offer any form of support to Jama (Davis, et al, 2017).

nShe narrated the experience since the incident, which illustrates her concerns, fears, and regrets. Jama also expressed her feeling of insecurity in the society. Sahr promises to support her through prayers and psychological reinforcement in order to retain her confidence. Since the trial and assault, she has visited many organizations and churches across the Midwest aiming to create awareness among the people (Davis, et al, 2017). The visits were also meant to provide an opportunity for persons who have never meet a Muslim woman before. Sahr admits that since her sister was released from prison, she has never spoken to her but instead would focus on helping Jama.

nMajor adjustment issue in chosen article

nBased on the information presented in the article, it is clear that Asma Jama is suffering from a major adjustment issue. In particular, she is undergoing hostility in her new area of residence in Minnesota, the United States. The biggest problems arise because of the differences in communication, language, and races between the Somali immigrant and the native culture in the United States (Davis, et al, 2017). Prejudice and stereotypes start to emerge in the host nation. Consequently, a person like Jama begins to feel frightened, discontent, sad, anxious, frustrated, and impatient. Similarly, she started to deliberate that her new area may not be safe after all.

nFurthermore, people in the host country appear to be very different, rude and abrupt as compared to those from the motherland. Therefore, it complicates the life of immigrants such as Jama because of hostility and irritation (Davis, et al, 2017). Additionally, it is evident that Jama suffered from racial discrimination, prejudices, and stereotypes because of her religion and racial difference. The attacker had misconceptions about Somali-American culture and faith, which drove the animosity (Davis, et al, 2017). For this reason, her life is characterized by mistrust and extreme fear of the native people.

nThree (3) evidence-based strategies from chosen article

nHostility during cultural adjustment is a common problem in the host nation. Therefore, immigrants need to adopt effective strategies that would assist them to cope with the psychological violence such as racial bias, verbal aggression or physical assault (Roncaglia, 2014). More importantly, such persons should apply a broad range of mechanisms such as altering their thinking towards the issue, directly handling the condition or changing their feeling reaction. Precisely, the three evidence-based strategies of dealing with hostilities in a new culture include appraisal-focused strategies, problem-focused strategies and emotion-focused strategies (Kuo, 2014).

nEmotion-focused strategies are aimed at preventing or reducing individuals emotional response. In this regard, they are geared towards the management of feelings by establishing a mechanism of distraction or release such as pursuing social support or utilizing relaxation procedures (Weiten, Dunn & Hammer, 2014). Research indicates that emotion-focused strategies are intended to minimize, alleviate or/and reduce stressful or unpleasant feeling linked to cultural adjustment challenges (Kuo, 2014). They help an individual to concentrate on the coping tactics to manage, accept and guide away emotional reactions to uncontrollable or unchangeable situation such as cultural adjustment. Therefore, an individual is advised to accept or cope with the problem. More importantly, it is considered one of the effective strategies to deal with emotions emanating from psychological adjustment challenges, life dissatisfaction, hostility and depression (Roncaglia, 2014). Emotion-focused strategies raise the feeling of contentment, positivity, and pleasure in the persons life. Therefore, it helps an individual to improve his/her capacity to concentrate on things that can be changed.

nProblem-focused strategies are aimed at eliminating or minimizing the source of the problem. It involves the search for more data concerning the issue, understanding new ways to manage it or reviewing the pros and cons of the options. The main aim of this strategy is to change or tackle the problem. According to Weiten, Dunn and Hammer, (2014) by identifying the underlying problem, an individual is able to develop appropriate strategy to cope with it. Problem-focused strategies encompass proper time management, and problem solving. For instance, when one is faced with a difficult exam, he/she is required to prepare a study and revision plan in order to effective overcome the fears of failing the test (Weiten, Dunn & Hammer, 2014). Therefore, this approach pays close attention on the root cause of the problem towards overwhelming anxiety or stress. The problem-focused strategies involve four different stages. The first step involves recognition and definition of the problem in order to understand it. Secondly, an individual should formulate a solution or potential options by analyzing the issue objectively (Kuo, 2014). Thirdly, he/she should gain new expertise that can directly solve and suppress the problem. The final step entails reassessment and evaluation of the problem in order to establish new behaviors that may emerge.

nAppraisal-focused strategies are geared towards thinking about the individuals assumptions and thoughts with an aim to modify them. For instance, a person may distance himself or herself from the challenge or problem. It also entails changing values and goals. Interestingly, this strategy also calls for recognition of a humor in the problem in order to generate a positive spin (Kuo, 2014). The strategies are suitable in case there is no candid solution to the issue. Therefore, instead of concentrating on modifying or eliminating the cause, he/she is advised to change how one thinks concerning a particular problem (Szabo, Ward & Jose, 2016). Moreover, appraisal focused strategies demand a person to approach the problem differently by changing their values and goals.

nEvidence-based strategy best suited for people in chosen article

nAlthough all the three evidence-based strategies are effective in dealing with the problem, emotion-focused strategy is the best suited to deal with Asma Jama problem. The emotion-focused strategy is helpful when the issue at hand will not go away hence Jama needs to embrace the circumstance the way it is and devise mechanisms to cope with its outcome (Roncaglia, 2014). For instance, by utilizing social support, she would be able to get advice on how to achieve adjustment in Minnesota.

nSocial support is beneficial because it offers moral support, understanding and sympathy to the victim. Additionally it can be a source of resources, advice and information (Kuo, 2014). Most individuals switch to spirituality and religion for comfort, which helps to deal with emotions and stress by offering a wider and meaningful context where the problem can be established and hence more acknowledged by persons who trust in it. Furthermore, it enables one to establish positive meaning in life and overcome negative situation. In addition, emotion-focused strategies in this case can be applied through psychotherapy meetings with experts (Szabo, et al, 2016). In so doing, Asma Jama will be able to take advantage of counseling in order to unburden the issues affecting her.

nSimilarly, she will participate in group therapy, which involves speaking with other people, which assist to relieve negative emotions. The group therapy will also help to establish a feeling of sisterhood, which will play an important part in proper adjustment (Kuo, 2014). Furthermore, sharing experiences would assist Jama to gain her initial confidence to deal with hostilities arising from racial discrimination and cultural shock. In conclusion, the use of emotion-focused strategies would be advantageous in Jamas case study because it facilitates changing the emotions that complement fear, stress and distrust by freeing, managing or distracting her mental state (Szabo, et al, 2016). They would also help Jama to gain strength and focus on the issue from a different perspective.

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nReferences

nDavis, W., Esty-Kendall, J., & Martinez, E. (2017). When A Somali-American Woman Was Attacked, Support Came From An Unlikely Source. NPR.org. Retrieved 2 August 2017, from http://www.npr.org/2017/07/21/538295334/when-a-somali-american-woman-was-attacked-support-came-from-an-unlikely-source

nKuo, B. C. (2014). Coping, acculturation, and psychological adaptation among migrants: a theoretical and empirical review and synthesis of the literature. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine: An Open Access Journal, 2(1), 16-33.

nRoncaglia, I. (2014). Coping styles: A better understanding of stress and anxiety in individuals with autism spectrum conditions through sport and exercise models. Psychological Thought, 7(2), 134-143.

nSzabo, A., Ward, C., & Jose, P. E. (2016). Uprooting stress, coping, and anxiety: A longitudinal study of international students. International Journal of Stress Management, 23(2), 190.

nWeiten, W., Dunn, D. S., & Hammer, E. Y. (2014). Psychology applied to modern life: Adjustment in the 21st century. Cengage Learning.