Spirituality, Acculturation, and Fear of Death: A Psychometric Analysis of Argentine Jewish Migrants in Israel during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Iron Swords War
Spirituality, Acculturation, and Fear of Death: A Psychometric Analysis of Argentine Jewish Migrants in Israel during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Iron Swords War
PSOCIAL, vol. 10, núm. 2, e9, 2024
Universidad de Buenos Aires
Abstract: This study explores the psychological impact of spirituality, religious coping, and fear of death among Argentine Jewish migrants in Israel, using psychometric assessments and socio-demographic data. The research employs the Acculturation Scale, the Spirituality and Religious Sentiments scale (ASPIRES), the Fear of Death Scale (FODS), the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the Perception of Threat Scale (POT), and the Centrality of Events scale to analyze how these factors interplay in the context of major life events, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic and the Iron Swords War. By comparing two major crises—one global and one regional—the research aims to better understand the emotional and psychological adaptations of this population.
Keywords: Spirituality, Acculturation, Fear of Death, Israel.
Resumen: Este estudio explora el impacto psicológico de la espiritualidad, el afrontamiento religioso y el miedo a la muerte entre migrantes judíos argentinos en Israel, utilizando evaluaciones psicométricas y datos sociodemográficos. La investigación emplea la escala de Aculturación, la ASPIRES de Espiritualidad y Sentimientos Religiosos, la escala de Miedo a la Muerte (FODS), la escala de Miedo al COVID-19, la escala de Percepción de Amenaza (POT) y la escala de Centralidad de Eventos para analizar cómo estos factores interactúan en el contexto de eventos significativos de la vida, en particular la pandemia de COVID-19 y la Guerra de Espadas de Hierro. Al comparar dos crisis importantes—una global y otra regional—la investigación busca comprender mejor las adaptaciones emocionales y psicológicas de esta población.
Palabras clave: Espiritualidad, Aculturación, Miedo a la Muerte, Israel.
Introduction
As a part of the Israeli nation-building project and the concept of Israel as the Jewish homeland and refuge, the 1950 Israeli Law of Return grants every Jew eligibility to immigrate to Israel and automatically receive citizenship (Babis et al., 2019). This law was later expanded to grant the same rights to relatives of Jews, including grandchildren and non-Jewish nuclear family members (Raijman et al., 2022). Immigration under the Israeli Law of Return is called aliyah (literally translated as ascension), as it is considered a return to the homeland from the diaspora (Babis et al., 2019).
Since Israeli independence, there have been approximately 92,000 Latin American immigrants to Israel, of which more than half (58%) have come from Argentina (Babis, 2016). According to the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, the current population of first generation Latin American immigrants in Israel is approximately 60,000, of which 64% are of Argentine origin (Babis et al., 2019). Many Argentine Jews immigrate to Israel for ideological reasons of Zionism and Jewish identity, but this immigration is also influenced by economic problems in Argentina, antisemitism, and political persecution (Raijman et al., 2022). Moreover, there is a significant migratory movement from Argentina to Israel because Argentina currently has one of the largest Jewish communities in the world, and the largest in Latin America (Illbele, 2021).
Acculturation
Acculturation is the process of cultural and psychological change that results following a meeting between cultures (Sam & Berry, 2010; van der Zee & van Oudenhoven, 2022). Acculturation entails a variety of processes and results, in which individuals and groups adopt different ways to engage with the acculturation experience (Sam & Berry, 2010). Berry’s model of acculturation is based on two issues; the degree to which one wishes to maintain their heritage, culture, and identity, and the degree to which one wishes to have contact with those who are outside their group and participate in the daily life of the larger society (Sam & Berry, 2010). According to this model, there are four possible acculturation strategies: assimilation, integration, separation, and marginalization (Sam & Berry, 2010).
Assimilation occurs when individuals desire close interaction with other cultures or adopt the cultural values of the new society (and do not wish to maintain their previous cultural identity), which is exemplified by Argentine immigrants who consider themselves more Israeli than Argentinean (Friedrich & Alvarez 2020). Separation is the opposite strategy, in which individuals avoid interaction with members of the new society and place a high value on holding on to their original culture, resulting in Argentine immigrants who feel foreign in Israel even after many years of residency (Friedrich & Alvarez 2020). Integration describes individuals who wish to maintain their original culture, but also seek interaction with the new culture and its members, represented by Argentine immigrants who celebrate their heritage, while also adopting the customs of Israeli culture (Friedrich & Alvarez, 2020). The final strategy, marginalization, is defined by a lack of interest in maintaining one’s original culture as well as a lack of interest in interacting with the new culture, often for reasons of exclusion or discrimination, resulting in Argentine immigrants who surround themselves only with other South Americans, but feel they have no real sense of belonging to either culture (Friedrich & Alvarez, 2020). These four options are not static, and are not outcomes in themselves, but strategies (Sam & Berry, 2010).
The process of acculturation has a lasting impact on the lives of migrants and on the social environment. The outcomes of this process cannot be simplistically classified as either fully integrated or marginalized by the host country. Our interest in this topic stems from a desire to better understand the various factors influencing an individual's adaptation to a new culture.
We have considered that migration is a complex phenomenon encompassing a variety of economic, social, psychological, and security aspects, among other factors influencing daily life (Friedrich & Alvarez, 2020). It is a nuanced experience, and acculturation itself is influenced by a diversity of issues that affect the process to varying degrees. Initially, we consider it relevant to understand the subjective conceptions regarding the conflict situation in the territory to which these Argentinians are moving.
This topic is relevant, among other factors, due to the interactive and relational nature of the concept of acculturation in the reviewed theory. When interacting and mutually engaging with other social phenomena, an individual's acculturation capacity can be notably affected or altered. We can make the intuitive assumption that there is a strong relationship between the process of acculturation and an individual's well-being. Understanding that the process of adapting to a new culture permeates all aspects of life, and at the same time, subjective well-being (or happiness) may influence how acculturation develops. However, with this assumption, we can observe, following research conducted with migrants in Spain by Vallejo y Moreno (2014), that there is a strong relationship between life satisfaction and the adopted acculturation strategy (Martin Julian, 2017). Understanding that these studies are correlational, it can be inferred that the influence is mutual.
Beyond this small example of the interaction afforded by the variable, we can also review the Acculturation Stress Model, in which the acculturation process is composed of three processes: Cultural Mutation, which refers to the abandonment (intentional or accidental) of the individual's own cultural behaviors; Cultural Learning, where this cultural formation is replaced by that of the new environment to allow greater harmony with the new context; and Cultural Conflict, where the issues arising from the adaptation process are highlighted (Berry et al 1987, cited in Fajardo et al., 2008). It is within this conflict that the concept of acculturation stress is framed, defined as the emotional tensions that arise from the process of acculturation. Thus, with a small sample, we highlight the relevance of the use of this variable, and the reason it can be highly valuable for analysis in interaction with other independent variables, which we will explore in this paper.
The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between acculturation and spirituality, religion, centrality of events, fear of death, and the social crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Iron Swords War. Specifically, this study investigates the impact of these factors on the acculturation process in the population of Argentine immigrants in Israel, additionally considering how these relationships vary based on migrants’ motivation for immigration and their socio-demographic characteristics.
Spirituality and Acculturation
Academic literature supports the claim that spirituality, as an operant motivation that directs behaviors, can be a positive coping mechanism. Beyond religious reasons for this phenomenon, such as the belief in divine protection, there is also the religious community that offers social support through affiliations. We define spirituality as the motivation that drives individuals to seek broader meaning in their lives. However, religiosity is an emotional tendency that stems from social traditions and education (Simkin & Piedmont, 2018).
Religious sentiments (RS) and spiritual transcendence (ST) are central components of spirituality and religiosity, both of which significantly influence behavior, personality, and mental health (Simkin & Piedmont, 2018). Although Berry’s model of acculturation provides a foundational framework for measuring acculturation, we argue that for Jewish immigrants in Israel, a more nuanced model is necessary to capture the complexity of acculturation more accurately. Spirituality, considered as an independent factor in this study, highlights some of the limitations inherent in Berry’s model.
Jewish identity in Argentina is fluid and multifaceted, shaped by a complex interplay of ethnic, national, and diasporic factors (Rein, 2010; Krupnik, 2023). Rather than being a single narrative, it reflects an ongoing negotiation between Jewish heritage and Argentine nationality (Rein, 2010). For Argentine Jewish immigrants, this dual identity influences how they navigate the acculturation process in Israel.
Jewish Argentines returning to their country of origin after living in Israel for even a year often maintain emotional and cultural ties with Israel (Krupnik, 2023). This emotional (and sometimes material) connection with Israel portrays the strong spiritual bond that Argentine immigrants have with the historical Jewish land. This amalgamation of identity also plays a significant role in their acculturation process when migrating to Israel, as it influences how they adapt to the new cultural environment; which is not in actuality so new.
Acculturation among Jewish Argentines is influenced by identity, cultural adaptation, and social integration, impacting their sense of belonging and ability to balance complex identities (Friedrich & Alvarez, 2020). Spirituality can motivate migration and aid acculturation by enhancing resilience and helping to cope with cultural transitions. When migration to Israel is driven by spiritual reasons, emotional ties to the country can ease acculturation and strengthen community bonds, vital in collectivist Jewish culture (Pirutinsky et al., 2019).
Religion and Acculturation
The relationship between religion and acculturation is multifaceted, acting as both a facilitator and a barrier, depending on the context. Religion, as the independent variable, influences acculturation by shaping immigrants' cultural adaptation and psychological well-being. The impact of this relationship is often moderated by factors such as cultural attitudes in host societies and the extent of social integration.
Steffen and Merrill (2011) found that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) supports Mexican immigrants in Utah by fostering spiritual well-being and social support, facilitating smoother acculturation to Anglo culture. This positive influence highlights how dominant religious organizations can create bridges to cultural adaptation. However, in contexts where religious practices are perceived as barriers, challenges arise. For example, Dimitrova and Aydinli-Karakulak (2016) demonstrated that a strong religious identity helps Turkish minority youth navigate cultural challenges but may also lead to resistance to mainstream norms, particularly in societies with anti-religious policies.
Similarly, Jewish Argentine immigrants exhibit a dual experience. Their religious identity, rooted in traditions such as dietary laws and Sabbath observance, provide resilience and a sense of belonging but may also create tensions in host societies where these practices are viewed as obstacles to full integration. Iranian migrants and international PhD students in Spain face similar challenges. Religious practices, like wearing the hijab or adhering to dietary restrictions, can heighten integration challenges in European contexts. Yet, positive host-community attitudes, such as those observed in Spain, mitigate these barriers and promote sociocultural adaptation (Elhami & Roshan, 2024).
Across immigrant groups, religion serves both as a resource and a challenge. For instance, Formoso-Suárez et al. (2022) and Silva et al. (2017) examined Latin American immigrants in Spain and the United States, highlighting how positive religious coping fosters subjective happiness and smoother adaptation. In contrast, negative coping, such as spiritual discontent, exacerbates stress and psychological distress. These dynamics resonate with Jewish Argentine immigrants, whose religious coping strategies influence their acculturation experiences, especially in environments where anti-Semitic attitudes persist. In conclusion, religion’s dual role in acculturation —providing both support and obstacles— underscores the importance of tailored strategies to address challenges while leveraging the strengths of religious identity and community cohesion.
Fear of death and Acculturation
Fear of death, central to Jewish immigration from Argentina to Israel, is explained by Terror Management Theory (TMT), which links mortality awareness to anxiety. Israel serves as a sanctuary, offering safety and cultural preservation, especially for those facing persecution or violence. Gal (2020) highlights the long-term psychological effects of antisemitism and childhood trauma during Argentina's military dictatorship, showing how these experiences intensify feelings of insecurity and the need for safety and belonging. This leads to immigration to Israel as a coping mechanism for managing death anxiety. This theory underscores how heightened awareness of death drives people to seek security in familiar cultural environments, like Israel, which offers shared religious and cultural values (Dupuis & Safdar, 2010). The relationship between cultural context and death anxiety is further illuminated by contrasting mechanisms of self-esteem in individualist and collectivist societies. For instance, in Austria, an individualist culture, self-esteem is anchored in personal achievement, making self-competence and general self-esteem key buffers against death anxiety (Du & Jonas, 2013). Conversely, the communal and interdependent framework of Israeli society emphasizes shared cultural values, offering a distinct form of protection rooted in collective identity. These cultural differences suggest that strategies to manage fear of death are deeply embedded in the sociocultural structures that individuals inhabit.
This link between cultural belonging and mental health extends into the domain of acculturation. Acculturation processes significantly impact the mental health of forced migrants, with factors such as social support, discrimination, and socio-economic status influencing the extent of this effect (Mengistu et al., 2019; Balidemaj & Small, 2019). Similarly, Restrepo-Madero et al. (2017) note that cultural shifts can reshape individuals' understanding of death, spiritual beliefs, and coping mechanisms, with acculturation mediating the link between fear of death and health outcomes by influencing the adoption of death-related practices. High acculturation levels, such as language proficiency and cultural integration, enable migrants to adopt local practices that alleviate death-related fears. Conversely, cultural misalignment or low acculturation can heighten fear of death by reinforcing uncertainty and disconnect from supportive frameworks (Grace, 2019; Florian et al., 1989).
Comparison of COVID-19 and Iron Swords War regarding acculturation
Both COVID-19 and the Iron Swords War caused societal disruptions that reshaped cultural identities and accelerated acculturation. During COVID-19, lockdowns, remote work, and restricted interactions disrupted communal rituals and cultural practices. Individuals adapted by using digital platforms to maintain social cohesion and cultural continuity, demonstrating the resilience of cultural systems to renegotiate values under altered conditions (Berry, 2006; Müller et al., 2023; Hasanović et al., 2020; Pillai, 2023). These adaptations illustrate how technological reliance facilitated integration, even amid physical isolation.
In contrast, the Iron Swords War introduced distinct challenges through forced displacement. Displaced individuals had to adapt to new societal norms, languages, and practices, driven by survival needs and the pursuit of stability (Tajfel & Turner, 1986). Unlike the pandemic's reliance on digital adaptation, war highlighted the complexities of physical integration and the marginalization that arises when cultural differences are pronounced or support systems are lacking (Raza, 2018). This juxtaposition underscores the different pathways through which crises influence acculturation.
Psychological adaptation connects both crises, revealing shared and divergent patterns. COVID-19's isolation fostered cultural innovation, reshaping communication methods and family dynamics. In contrast, the trauma from war-induced displacement profoundly transformed identities as individuals rebuilt their lives in new communities (Berry, 2006; Shamji et al., 2022). Both cases reveal how stressful situations compel individuals to redefine cultural identities as a coping mechanism.
Finally, migration and displacement unify these phenomena, reflecting varying degrees of agency. COVID-19 saw voluntary relocations that fostered integration into new cultural contexts. Forced migrations caused by war emphasized challenges of assimilation under external pressures and resource scarcity (Vukomanović, 2020; Benson & O'Reilly, 2016). Together, these examples highlight how pandemics and conflicts, though differing in nature, drive acculturation by reshaping cultural adaptation in unique yet interconnected ways.
Centrality of Events and Acculturation
Immigration as a main event preserves and transfers culture while interacting with local culture, shaping future generations' identity. Liwerant and DellaPergola (2023) state that immigration involves preserving cultural identity while adapting to new norms. Uprootedness challenges immigrants in cultural exchanges, affecting integration and heritage ties. The centrality of events is the independent variable, and acculturation is the dependent variable, with a positive relationship.
Immigration as a major event can affect an immigrant's life, depending on the reason and environment. With social support and coping strategies, the experience is positive (Sam and Berry, 2010). Globalization also helps preserve cultural and religious identity and makes the experience positive (Liwerant, 2021). Shared experiences foster belonging and balance integration with cultural identity (Castillo Muñoz, 2020).
In addition, the cultural preservation hypothesis suggests that individuals from collectivist cultures use avoidant coping styles due to fear of losing face, and lack of social support can heighten stress during immigration. Conversely, the context hypothesis emphasizes that empowered new immigrants are more likely to integrate into their new society. Both models highlight how central life events influence coping and cultural presentation in the new country (Roesch et al., 2007).
The centrality of immigration events affects an immigrant's identity. Simkin (2020) found that Latin American Jewish immigrants in Israel who see key events as central to both Argentine and Israeli experiences maintain a dual identity. Those linking events to one location feel connected only to that identity. Significant events in Israel make immigrants feel more Israeli, while those in Argentina strengthen Argentine identity. A lack of central events can lead to disconnection from both identities.
Moreover, Immigration motives influence its perception. There are three types: preservation, self-development, and materialism. Preservation leads to positive views due to security and support. Self-development and materialism may result in mixed or negative feelings. Because it is a central event, immigration's negativity can affect other life areas (Tartakovsky & Schwartz, 2001). In conclusion, Immigration as a main event affects cultural identity by preserving heritage while adapting to new cultures, shaped by support and key events.
Method
Participants
The study included a sample of 26 Argentine Jewish immigrants residing in Israel. Participants were recruited through online platforms and community centers. The inclusion criteria were being over 18 years old and having lived in Israel for at least one year. The sample had a mean age of 55,8 (SD = 17,9), with 57,7 % identifying as male and 42,3% as female.
Instruments
Assessment of Spirituality and Religious Sentiments (ASPIRES) – Piedmont (2004).
The ASPIRES scale was used to assess spirituality and religious sentiments. This scale has been adapted to the Spanish-speaking context following the methodology outlined by Simkin (2018) for its use in Argentina. The scale evaluates religious sentiments (participation and crises) and spiritual transcendence (prayer fulfillment, universality, and connectedness). Responses were recorded on a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating stronger spiritual or religious engagement.
Acculturation Scale
To assess acculturation, four questions were designed based on the categories established by Berry (1997): (1) I feel more Argentine than Israeli; (2) I feel more Israeli than Argentine; (3) I feel equally Argentine and Israeli; and (4) I feel I don't fully belong to either Argentina or Israel. Responses were rated on a 5-point Likert scale, where 1 indicated "strongly agree" and 5 indicated "strongly disagree."
Fear of Death Scale
The Fear of Death Scale (FODS; Collett-Lester; 1969) was utilized to evaluate participants’ anxiety surrounding death and dying. The scale was adapted and validated for use in Argentina by Quintero & Simkin (2020). It measures fear in four dimensions: fear of one's own death, fear of the death of others, fear of one's own dying process, and fear of the dying process of others. Participants answered on a 5-point Likert scale, where higher scores indicated greater fear.
Fear of COVID-19 Scale
The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S; Ahorsu et al. 2020) was used to assess participants' fear regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. This scale was adapted to the Argentine context and has shown strong psychometric properties (Furman et al., 2020). It consists of seven items rated on a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating greater fear.
Perception of Threat Scale
This scale (POT; Abusalok et al, 2020) was employed to examine how Argentine immigrants in Israel experience threat, based on the following items: (1) “Palestinians and Israelis will never be truly comfortable with one another ́s presence, even though they are close to one another”, (2) “It is possible to think of a future where both Israelis and Palestinians benefit from mutual cooperation”, (3) “I fear my family or myself might suffer from a terrorist attack perpetrated by a Palestinian”, (4) “In my opinion, most Palestinians would destroy the state of Israel if they could”. (5) “It is possible to trust Palestinians” and (6) “I feel empathy towards Palestinians”.
Brief Centrality of Event Scale
The Brief Centrality of Event Scale (BCES; Berntsen & Rubin, 2006) is a self-administered questionnaire consisting of 7 items that assesses the extent to which traumatic events are considered central to an individual's identity (e.g., "I feel that this event has become part of my identity"). The items use a Likert-type response format with five response anchors based on the participants' level of agreement, ranging from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree). For the purposes of the present study, a Spanish version validated and adapted by Simkin et al. (2017) was employed.
Procedure
Participants completed an online survey that included all the scales mentioned above. Data were collected anonymously, and participants provided informed consent before beginning. The survey took approximately 25-30 minutes to complete.
Data Analysis
Descriptive statistics were calculated for each variable. Correlations between religious sentiments, spirituality, acculturation, fear of death, and fear of COVID-19 with subjective well-being were assessed. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the predictive value of these variables on well-being outcomes. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS. Given the small sample size (N = 26), we applied non-parametric resampling techniques to improve the robustness of the estimations. Specifically, we used the bootstrap method (with 1,000 resamples) to assess the stability of the results. This approach allows for more accurate inference in small samples by approximating the sampling distribution of the statistic of interest.
Results
A correlational analysis was conducted to assess the associations between the variables included in this study. Table 1 contains the results of the correlation analysis.
| Table 1: Correlations for Study Variables | |||||||||||
| 1. | 2. | 3. | 4. | 5. | 6. | 7. | 8. | 9. | 10. | 11. | |
| 1.SE | 1 | ||||||||||
| 2.AS | -,945** | 1 | |||||||||
| 3.IN | ,177 | -,179 | 1 | ||||||||
| 4.MA | ,434* | -,482* | ,015 | 1 | |||||||
| 5.CE | -,381 | ,475* | -,091 | ,145 | 1 | ||||||
| 6.ST | ,096 | -,002 | -,034 | -,005 | ,002 | 1 | |||||
| 7.RI | -,153 | ,139 | ,192 | ,049 | ,052 | ,462* | 1 | ||||
| 8.PO | ,268 | -,296 | -,273 | ,140 | ,024 | ,204 | -,086 | 1 | |||
| 9.FC | ,201 | -,047 | ,135 | ,082 | ,098 | ,341 | ,112 | ,347 | 1 | ||
| 10.FO | ,467* | -,476* | -,286 | ,298 | -,330 | -,034 | -,145 | ,471* | ,189 | 1 | |
| 11.FD | ,066 | -,084 | -,466* | -,061 | -,130 | ,141 | -,050 | ,681** | ,132 | ,356 | 1 |
| Notes: ** = The correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (bilateral). * = The correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (bilateral). SE= Separation; AS= Assimilation; IN = Integration; MA=Marginalization; CES=Centrality of Events; ST= Spirituality; RI= Religious Involvement; PO= Perception of Threat; FC= Fear of COVID; FO= Fear of Own´s death; FD= Fear of Other´s death. | |||||||||||
The results show that, for this sample, contrary to what was expected, neither Spirituality nor Religious Involvement correlate with any of the acculturation dimensions.
Centrality of Events has been found to have a moderate positive correlation with Assimilation (,475). Argentine immigrants in our sample who viewed key events as more central were, thus, more likely to employ this acculturation strategy. Fear of One's Own Death positively correlated with Separation (,467) but negatively with Assimilation (-,476). Meanwhile, Fear of Other’s Death was found to have a moderate negative correlation with Integration (-,466). For its part, Fear of COVID-19 does not correlate with any of the acculturation dimensions.
Finally, Perception of Threat was found to be positively correlated with Fear of One's Own Death (,471) and even more so with Fear of Other’s Death (,681).
Discussion
Our working hypothesis expected that spirituality and religiosity would have a positive correlation with integration and assimilation; just as these variables would tend to have a negative correlation with the separation and marginalization strategy. However, we find neither spirituality nor religiosity as relevant factors related to any of the acculturation strategies employed by this sample of Argentine migrants to Israel. These results could be due to the limited sample size, as well as the particular historical context. In addition, the complexity of a variable such as spirituality and its understanding may have contributed to these findings.
Of all the acculturation strategies, integration -which has been considered psychologically the healthiest strategy- has been found to be inversely related to fear of death, particularly, the death of others. That is, Argentine immigrants to Israel with less of this type of fear will tend to adjust in a healthier way to the new culture. This fear, at the same time, is related to perception of threat, which indirectly might affect the acculturation strategy employed. No other variable was found to be directly related to integration.
Fear of one's own death, remarkably, was found to be positively related to separation but negatively so to assimilation. This seems to suggest that higher levels of fear in immigrants might lead to avoidance, thus favoring rejection of the host culture and the adoption of its norms, to preserve one's original culture. This finding seems especially relevant to immigrants who are exposed to war or other dangerous events, and offers insight into their reduced likelihood to experience integration.
The data analyzed reveal that Argentinian immigrants to Israel experience fear of death is significantly more associated with acculturation strategies than fear of COVID-19. This finding is key for understanding the acculturation dynamics of this group. The segregation strategy adopted by those migrants who feel a greater fear of death -likely related in part to the Iron Swords War- seems to limit their ability to adapt and integrate into Israeli society. This phenomenon suggests that the fear of violence and instability may have a constraining influence on migrants' decisions regarding their interaction with the local culture, favoring an isolation that hinders their acculturation process. Therefore, it is fundamental to consider these emotional factors and to delve into the reasons why an event such as war may have a more negative influence on the migration process compared to COVID-19.
In contrast to fear of one's own death, a higher assimilation of the host culture was linked to centrality of events. This finding supports the hypothesis that individuals who experience key events as more central are more likely to want to identify and interact mainly with the new culture. This could be due to the possibility that type of events motivating migration might have caused certain detachment from the original Argentinian culture. Future research should investigate this relationship further.
There are certain limitations to this study that could be addressed in future research. The small sample size (N = 26) limits the statistical power and generalizability of the findings. To mitigate this, bootstrap techniques were employed, offering more stable parameter estimates under small-sample conditions. While these techniques improve the robustness of the results, the findings should still be interpreted with caution and regarded as exploratory. Also, migrants are a self-selected group and, as such, may have their own unique characteristics. The omission of certain demographic variables could have affected the correlations, such as age, sex, relationships, offspring, and socioeconomic status.
Despite these limitations, the present study contributes to a better understanding of how spirituality, religious involvement, centrality of events, perception of threat and fear of death influence the acculturation process of Argentine Jewish migrants in Israel. We hope these findings encourage further research into the psychological and contextual factors that shape the experiences of immigrant populations worldwide.
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