CONTENTS

Abstract/Tiivistelmä

Acknowledgements

LIST OF ORIGINAL PUBLICATIONS

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Immigrants in Finland

1.1.1. An Overview
1.1.2. Remigration Policy and Russian-Speaking Immigrants in Finland

1.2. Acculturation - Conceptual and Methodological Background

1.2.1. Definitions and Conceptual Distinctions
1.2.2. Models of Acculturation

1.3. Developing Acculturation Research

1.3.1. Acculturation and Orthogonal Ethnic Identification
1.3.2. Factors Influencing Multiple Ethnic Identification
1.3.3. The Dynamic Nature of Acculturation
1.3.4. The Interactive Nature of Acculturation
1.3.5. Acculturation and Adaptation
1.3.6. The Actual Degree of Acculturation among Young Immigrants
1.3.7. Acculturation, Stress and Psychological Adaptation among Young Immigrants
1.3.8. Conclusions - The Necessity of Theoretical Integration and Methodological Clarification in Studies on the Acculturation of Young Immigrants

1.4. Summary of the Aims of the Present Study

2. METHODS

2.1. Outline of the Present Study

2.2. Participants

2.2.1. Sample of Russian-Speaking Immigrant Adolescents
2.2.2. Comparison Groups

2.3. Procedure
2.4. Measures

3. MAIN RESULTS

3.1. Study I: Content and Predictors of the Ethnic Identity of Russian-Speaking Immigrant Adolescents in Finland

3.1.1. What are the specific ethnic and linguistic self-identifications of Russian-speaking immigrant adolescents in Finland? (aim no. 1)
3.1.2.  What are the structure and content of the ethnic identity of Russian-speaking immigrant adolescents? (aim no. 2)
3.1.3. Do different ethnic and linguistic self -identifications of Russian-speaking immigrant adolescents reflect some actual differences between them in their Russian and Finnish language usage and proficiency and in the degree of their Russian and Finnish identity? (aim no. 3)
3.1.4. What factors predict the degree of Russian and Finnish identity among Russian-speaking immigrant adolescents in Finland? (aim no. 4)

3.2. Study II: Exploration of the Ethnic Identity of Russian-Speaking Immigrant Adolescents in Finland

3.2.1. Do the ethnic self-identification of Russian-speaking immigrant adolescents on the one hand, and the degree of their Russian and Finnish identity on the other, change over time during their residence in Finland? To what extent are these changes consistent with the ethnic identity stages proposed by Phinney (1989), and what is the pace of these changes? (aim no. 5)
3.2.2. Which of Berry's four acculturation options best describes Russian-speaking immigrant adolescents' acculturation as a state in terms of their ethnic identity on the one hand, and of acculturation strategies on the other? (aim no. 6)
3.2.3. Do the different ethnic identity dimensions and acculturation profiles observed among Russian-speaking immigrant adolescents using a bidimensional model of ethnic identification correspond to the acculturation options observed using the acculturation strategy model? (aim no. 7)
3.2.4. Do the acculturation strategies of Russian-speaking immigrant adolescents correspond to the acculturation orientations preferred by the host nationals? With what kind of relational outcomes in terms of perceived discrimination is this relationship associated? (aim no. 8)

3.3. Study III: Predictors of the Actual Degree of Acculturation of Russian-Speaking Immigrant Adolescents in Finland

3.3.1. Do Russian-speaking immigrant adolescents in Finland differ from their native Finnish peers in adherence to family-related values, and what factors predict their actual degree of acculturation? (aim no. 9)

3.4. Study IV: Perceived Discrimination and Psychological Adjustment among Russian-Speaking Immigrant Adolescents in Finland

3.4.1. What is the level of psychological adjustment of Russian-speaking immigrant adolescents compared to the level of psychological stress symptoms among native Finnish adolescents and immigrant adolescents from other cultural backgrounds in Finland? (aim no. 10)
3.4.2. What factors threaten and promote psychological adjustment in terms of acculturative stress among Russian-speaking immigrant adolescents in Finland? (aim no. 11)

3.5. Study V: Acculturation and Psychological Well‑being among Immigrant Adolescents in Finland: A Comparative Study of Adolescents from Different Cultural Backgrounds

3.5.1. How do different factors (i.e., perceived discrimination, proficiency in Finnish, traditional family-related values and experiences of parental support) affect various indices of psychological well-being (i.e., psychological stress symptoms, behavioural problems, life satisfaction, sense of mastery and self-esteem) among immigrant adolescents from different cultural backgrounds in Finland? (aim no. 12)

4. DISCUSSION

4.1. Discussion of the Main Results

4.1.1. The Complexity of the Ethnic Identity of Russian-Speaking Immigrant Adolescents
4.1.2. The Dynamic and Interactive Nature of Acculturation of Russian-Speaking Immigrant Adolescents
4.1.3. The Actual Degree of Acculturation of Russian-Speaking Immigrant Adolescents
4.1.4. Acculturation Problems and Psychological Well-being among Immigrant Adolescents
4.1.5. The Importance of Perceived Parental Support and Traditional Family-Related Values

4.2. Methodological Concerns

4.2.1. The Sample
4.2.2. The Data Collection
4.2.3. The Validity of the Scales from a Cross-Cultural Perspective
4.2.4. The Cross-Sectional Design

4.3. Future Perspectives

4.4. Some Practical Implications

4.5. Conclusions

REFERENCES

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