Abstract
This study examined the impact of acculturation on family relationships among the Nigerian immigrants with reference to domestic violence in the context of acculturation models, systems theory and violentization theory. The participants of the study included 53 Nigerian immigrants who were recruited through non-probability, convenience and purposive sampling process. Data was collected from voluntary and consenting participants using a survey and a scale on acculturation. The results were consistent with the primary themes delineated from this study’s literature review that the process of acculturation plays a role in the kind of networks, role expectations of wives and husbands and the stressors associated with adjustment to the host society. Results indicate that there is minimal difference between men and women on the perception of tendency for domestic violence among members of the Nigerian immigrant community in Sacramento, California, with men scoring higher (19.52) than women (18.93). An independent samples t-test indicated that this difference was not statistically significant. Overall study findings indicate that the duration of stay in the United States affects social networks and interaction patterns. The responses emphasize the rising awareness regarding the support that immigrant families need to receive in order to make the acculturation process an empowering adjustment process. Additionally, the study findings support the fact that with the increase in stay in the host country, there is an increased tendency to share the decision making process, household responsibilities and child rearing. However, some of the traditional female associated work such as cooking is still solely conducted by women even when they work outside the home and the secondary effects of this expectation causes some difficulties in role expectations and family functioning as indicated by the literature review and the respondents of this study.