<P> Researchers recently uncovered another layer of complications in this field, where survey data has either combined several ethnic groups together or has labeled an ethnic group incorrectly . When these generalizations occur, nuances and subtleties about a person or group's experience of acculturation or acculturative stress can be diluted or lost . For example, much of the scholarly literature on this topic uses U.S. Census data, however the Census mistakenly categorizes Arab - Americans as "White". By doing so, this data set omits many factors about the Arab - American migrant experience, including but not limited to acculturation and acculturative stress . This is of particular importance after the events of September 11, 2001, since Arab - Americans have faced increased prejudice and discrimination, leaving this community with an increased risk of acculturative stress . Research focusing on the adolescent Arab American experience of acculturation has also found that youth who experience acculturative stress during the identity formation process are at a higher risk for low self - esteem, anxiety, and depression . </P> <P> Some researchers argue that education, social support, hopefulness about employment opportunities, financial resources, family cohesion, maintenance of traditional cultural values, and high socioeconomic status (SES) serve as protections or mediators against acculturative stress . Previous work shows that limited education, low SES, and underemployment all increase acculturative stress . Since this field of research is rapidly growing, more research is needed to better understand how certain subgroups are differentially impacted, how stereotypes and biases have influenced former research questions about acculturative stress, and the ways in which acculturative stress can be effectively mediated . </P> <P> In situations of continuous contact, cultures have exchanged and blended foods, music, dances, clothing, tools, and technologies . Cultural exchange can either occur naturally through extended contact, or more quickly though cultural appropriation or cultural imperialism . </P> <P> Cultural appropriation is the adoption of some specific elements of one culture by members a different cultural group . It can include the introduction of forms of dress or personal adornment, music and art, religion, language, or behavior . These elements are typically imported into the existing culture, and may have wildly different meanings or lack the subtleties of their original cultural context . Because of this, cultural appropriation for monetary gain is typically viewed negatively, and has sometimes been called "cultural theft". </P>

The process of acculturation can result in which of the following