Peer Responses

Peer Response 1 (BW)

Hello,

Thank you for your post. You mentioned significant information regarding the psychosocial effects of discrimination on immigrant individuals. While psychosocial theory offers a holistic view of where psychologic and societal processes interact, it can have limitations when used in practice with immigrant individuals: Peer Responses.

One limitation is that it may focus too much on individual adaptation as opposed to systemic causes of distress, including institutional racism or repressive immigration policies. This can inadvertently cast the client as responsible for their difficulties at the expense of structural inequalities.

Furthermore, it is unlikely that the psychosocial model would incorporate cultural values, community strength, or group resilience strategies typical in immigrant communities. Ordinary psychosocial measures might not account for what clients themselves define as mental health or recovery in terms of cultural norms and thus lead to culturally inappropriate interventions (Due et al., 2024). Effective practice demands social workers to adapt the framework by including culturally distinct narratives and community voices so that interventions would represent clients’ experiences of living.

References

Due, C., Gartley, T., & Ziersch, A. (2024). A systematic review of psychological group interventions for adult refugees in resettlement countries: Development of a stepped care approach to mental health treatment. Australian Psychologist, 59(3), 167–184. https://doi.org/10.1080/00050067.2024.2343745

Peer Response 2 (TY)

Hello,

Great work. Your discussion raises important psychosocial issues that immigrants face, including acculturative stress and generational conflict. The psychosocial framework, however, is a disadvantage in that it is still too focused on the coping styles of individuals without centring systemic barriers, such as policies regarding immigration, labor market exclusion, or discriminatory sentiments in an individual’s living conditions.

This yields interventions for symptom treatment but not for eradicating root inequities. Without careful deconstruction of oppression in a structuration form, social workers can overlook the underlying basis for distress and unjustly place responsibility on the client to adapt.

The psychosocial approach may also limit effectiveness when the beliefs of a given culture differ from Western definitions of mental illness (Costa et al., 2025). Therapeutic processes, for instance, may disregard emphasis on extended kinship patterns, spirituality, or collectivistic identity in recovery. Measures can be nonpertinent or irrelevant to clients’ everyday reality unless deliberately culturally adapted. Such a lack of appropriateness can obscure trust, cooperation, and long-range effectiveness in treatment.

References

Costa, N., Olson, R., Mescouto, K., Setchell, J., Plage, S., Dune, T., Creese, J., Suleman, S., Prasad-Ildes, R., & Ng, Z. Y. (2025). Non-clinical psychosocial mental health support programmes for people with diverse language and cultural backgrounds: A critical rapid review. Culture Medicine and Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11013-024-09893-1

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Peer Responses

*Pls Note: Respond to the following discussion posts in about 2-3 paragraphs each.

• Analyze the disadvantages of using a psychosocial framework in social work practice with the group chosen

DISCUSSION POST 1

Psychologically Related

Immigrant individuals from racial or ethnic minority groups often experience significant psychological distress due to racial and ethnic discrimination. Bhui et al. (2005) found a strong link between perceived discrimination and common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety among ethnic minority workers. These experiences can lead to feelings of low self-esteem, chronic stress, and heightened vulnerability to mental health issues. Social workers need to recognize how discrimination can profoundly impact the psychological well-being of their clients and address these concerns in practice.

Socially Related

Discrimination also contributes to social isolation and exclusion, creating barriers to employment, social integration, and access to resources. The study highlights how systemic and interpersonal discrimination affect clients’ ability to build supportive social networks and fully participate in community life. Social workers must understand these social barriers and their effects, advocating for inclusive environments and facilitating clients’ connection to community resources and support systems.

Psychosocial Intervention on Peer Rejection

Peer rejection, fueled by racial or ethnic discrimination, exacerbates the psychosocial challenges faced by immigrant individuals. Interventions that address this issue should focus on strengthening social support, fostering resilience, and creating safe spaces where clients feel validated and accepted. Bhui et al. (2005) suggest that social workers can help mitigate the negative effects of peer rejection through culturally sensitive counseling and community advocacy to reduce discrimination and promote equity.

Advantage of Using a Psychosocial Framework

Using a psychosocial framework enables social workers to holistically assess how psychological distress interacts with social factors like discrimination and exclusion. This comprehensive approach allows for interventions that not only address individual mental health symptoms but also tackle systemic issues contributing to those symptoms. Bhui et al. (2005) highlight that such a framework encourages culturally competent, trauma-informed practice, empowering clients while advocating for broader social change.

References

Bhui, K., Stansfeld, S., McKenzie, K., Karlsen, S., Nazroo, J., & Weich, S. (2005). Racial/ethnic discrimination and common mental disorders among workers: Findings from the EMPIRIC study of ethnic minority groups in the United Kingdom. American Journal of Public Health, 95(3), 496–501. Racial/Ethnic Discrimination and Common Mental Disorders Among Workers: Findings From the EMPIRIC Study of Ethnic Minority Groups in the United Kingdom | AJPH | Vol. 95 Issue 3

Racial/Ethnic Discrimination and Common Mental Disorders Among Workers: …

Objectives. We measured perceived discrimination and its association with common mental disorders among workers …

DISCUSSION POST 2

Immigrants from different racial or ethnic backgrounds often face unique challenges when they move to a new country. They may struggle with learning a new language, fitting into a different culture, or dealing with discrimination. These challenges can significantly affect both their mental health and daily functioning. Social workers need to understand these psychosocial stressors to provide the most effective support.

Using a psychosocial approach, which examines both a person’s thoughts and emotions (psychological) and their social environment and life situations (social), helps social workers understand what their clients are going through and develop more effective, culturally sensitive interventions (Yoon, Langrehr, & Ong, 2011).

Four Specific Psychosocial Factors

Psychological Factor #1: Acculturative Stress

Acculturative stress refers to the psychological impact of adapting to a new cultural environment. Immigrant individuals often struggle with language barriers, discrimination, and the loss of cultural norms. These difficulties can result in anxiety, depression, and identity confusion, particularly as individuals navigate dual cultural expectations (Yoon et al., 2011).

Psychological Factor #2: Intergenerational Conflict

Immigrant families frequently experience intergenerational tension due to differing levels of cultural adaptation. Younger family members tend to assimilate more quickly, which can lead to role reversals, miscommunication, and emotional strain. This dynamic often contributes to decreased self-esteem and increased family conflict (Yoon et al., 2011).

Social Factor #1: Socioeconomic Disadvantage

Immigrants may face systemic barriers to education, employment, and healthcare access. These challenges are social determinants of health that can lead to chronic stress, marginalization, and reduced overall well-being, further intensifying psychological distress (Yoon et al., 2011).

Social Factor #2: Discrimination and Xenophobia

Racial or ethnic minority immigrants may encounter racism, microaggressions, and institutional bias. These experiences hinder integration and foster a sense of social exclusion. Ongoing exposure to discrimination negatively impacts trust in systems, impairs social cohesion, and can lead to emotional and psychological harm (Yoon et al., 2011).

Psychosocial Intervention Example

To address acculturative stress, I would apply Culturally Adapted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CA-CBT). This intervention blends traditional CBT techniques—such as cognitive restructuring and behavioral activation, with the client’s cultural values, language, and belief systems. It may involve using culturally relevant metaphors, including family in the therapy process, or validating struggles with bicultural identity. CA-CBT has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression symptoms while respecting the client’s cultural worldview, thereby enhancing engagement and treatment outcomes (Yoon et al., 2011).

Advantage of Using a Psychosocial Framework

One significant advantage of using a psychosocial framework is its holistic and integrative perspective, which considers both internal psychological processes and external social environments. This dual lens enables social workers not only to address mental health concerns but also to advocate for systemic change and connect clients with culturally appropriate community resources, an essential practice when supporting immigrants facing multifaceted challenges (Yoon et al., 2011).

Reference

Yoon, E., Langrehr, K., & Ong, L. Z. (2011). Content analysis of acculturation research in counseling and counseling psychology: A 22-year review. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 58(1), 83–96. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021128Links to an external site.