Cultural adjustment strategy, level of identity consolidation and a sense of alienation among adults in the ethiopian community in Israel

Background: This research focuses on Ethiopian immigrants in Israel. It aims to evaluate correlations between cultural adjustment strategies and level of ego-identity consolidation as well as sense of alienation. Methods: Participants included 367 adults (ages 18-50) who immigrated to Israel as children or adolescents. Results: Findings illustrate that most participants displayed high levels of ego-identity. They showed high levels of the acculturation strategy of integration and exhibited low levels of alienation. Moreover, the two acculturation strategies of integration andmarginalization are significantly related with the participants’ levels of ego-identity. Level of alienation is significantly accounted for by the strategy of isolation and ego-identity level. This study also indicates that ego-identity level moderates the relationship between the acculturation strategy of integration and the level of alienation. Conclusions: The results attest that extending ego-identity (preserving the culture of origin together with accepting the new culture) might constitute effective means for promoting immigrant integration into the absorbing culture.