Acculturation refers to the cultural and psychological changes individuals undergo while interacting with the local community, individually or in a group. The acculturation process may be particularly complex for refugees and asylum seekers, as they leave their home country in search for a better and more secure life while also carrying the unpleasant experiences from their past They experience multiverse differences coming in contact with the host culture in many forms, including religion, food habits, language, and other celebrated cultures in the host community. Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh have also experienced these differences. The study aims to understand the acculturation experience and process of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. This paper addresses John Berry’s model of acculturation to understand how Rohingya refugees adapt to the host community. This study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 40 Rohingya refugees. The research findings highlight six key stages of acculturation that these Rohingya refugees go through while adapting to the host culture. The identified stages are i) hope, ii) fear of acceptance and uncertainty, iii) trust issues, iv) cultural differences, v) shared value, and vi) interest in the host culture. Despite the cultural and language differences, immediate access to basic needs, food and shelter, safety, and security provided by the Bangladeshi government and the humanitarian workers, including the selfless community support from the host community, facilitated the acculturation process for the Rohingya. This study suggests that sustainable social cohesion can accelerate the acculturation process of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. 

References

Amnesty International. (2016, November 28). Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants. https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/refugees-asylum-seekers-and-migrants/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Anderson, V. J. (2017). Understanding Intercultural Transitions and Migrant-Host-Relationships: How Empathy, Social Support, and Intercultural Competency Facilitates Positive Intercultural Interactions Between German Citizens and Refugees. [Ph.D. Dissertation. Arizona State University, United States]. https://core.ac.uk/download/97834043.pdf

Andrushko, Y. & Lupei, M. (2025). Acculturation Processes and the Experience of Traumatization in the Case of Forced Ukrainian Migrants. Wiley, 60(2), 1-10. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ijop.70036

Arslan, D. N. & Daghan, S. (2022). A qualitative research on the acculturation strategies, risk factors and health perceptions of Syrian asylum seekers. DargiPark Akademik, 2(2), 55-72. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/hsq/issue/73184/1195050

Associated Press. (2024, April 9). Rohingya who moved to island in Bangladesh are learning job skills, says Japanese charity chief. https://apnews.com/article/bangladesh-myanmar-japan-rohingya-hasina-island-nippon-foundation-7809259313dc94bf6b160cb182a1dadf

Bayram, B. Eryılmaz, R. (2025). The Relationship Between Acculturation and Second Language Learning in the Context of Sustainable Multiculturalism: A Case Study of Russian Immigrants and Syrian Refugees in Türkiye. Social Ecology and Sustainability, 17(1), 1-18. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/1/249

Benton, M., & Selee, A. (2022, May n.d.). The Ukrainian conflict could be a tipping point for refugee protection. Migration Policy Institute. https://www.migrationpolicy.org/news/ukrainian-displacement-refugee-protection

Berry, J. W. (1990). Psychology of acculturation: Understanding individuals moving between cultures. In R. W. Brislin (Ed.), Applied cross-cultural psychology (pp. 232–253). Sage Publications.

Berry, J. W. (1994). Acculturation and psychological adaptation: An overview. In A.-M. Bouvy, F. J. R. van de Vijver, P. Boski, & P. Schmitz (Eds.), Acculturation and psychological adaptation (pp. 1–14). Sage.

Berry, J. W. (1997). Immigration, acculturation, and adaptation. Applied Psychology, 46(1), 5–34. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3700543/

Bi, S., Ahmad, A. L. & Aziz, J. (2024). Social Media Use and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Chinese Students Overseas: A Systematic Review. e-Bangi: Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities, 21(4). https://ejournal.ukm.my/ebangi/article/view/69798

Bonyan Organization. (2023). Understanding refugee challenges and displacement. https://bonyan.ngo/refugee-challenges-2023/

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Brown, A., Garcia, E., & Martinez, B. (2025). SDGs and Social Friction: Evaluating Integration Challenges of Rohingya Refugees. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/390939350_SDGs_and_Social_Friction_Evaluating_Integration_Challenges_of_Rohingya_Refugees

Concern Worldwide. (2024). The global refugee crisis, explained. Concern Worldwide. https://www.concern.net/news/global-refugee-crisis-explained

Farhana, Z. T., & Ahmad, A. L. (2024). Issues and challenges in acculturation among the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh: A systematic literature review. Malaysian Journal of Communication, 40(4), 217–234. https://ejournal.ukm.my/mjc/article/view/72621

Fathi, M., Skrbiš, Z., & Humphrey, M. (2018). Refugee resettlement, social networks and the challenges of successful integration. Journal of Sociology, 54(2), 222–238. https://doi.org/10.1177/1440783318756810

Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals. (2017, September 29)  The Daily Star. https://www.thedailystar.net/city/forcibly-displaced-myanmar-nationals-1469374

Gurieva, S., & Kinunen, T. (2019). Adaptation or acculturation: That is the question. Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, 331, 272–277. https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/ismge-19/125912481

Hennink, M. M., & Kaiser, B. N. (2022). Sample sizes for saturation in qualitative research: A systematic review of empirical tests. Social Science & Medicine, 292, 114523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114523

Islam, N. (2020). Rohingya: A people under endless tyranny. Asian Affairs: An American Review, 48(1), 14–40. https://doi.org/10.1080/00927678.2020.1793631

Jiang, M., Ahmad, A. L. & Aziz, J. (2024). New Media and Cross-cultural Adaptation: A Bibliometric Analysis Using Vosviewer. e-Bangi: Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities, 21 (1), 273-285. https://ejournal.ukm.my/ebangi/article/view/69029

Kang, E., & Hwang, H. (2021). Ethical conducts in qualitative research methodology: Participants observation and interview process. Journal of Research and Publication Ethics, 2(2), 5–10. https://koreascience.kr/article/JAKO202130550806959.pdf

Karin, S., Chowdhury, M., Hasnat, M., & Tarin, N. (2020). Status of Rohingya in refugee camps of Bangladesh: A review study. Open Access Library Journal, 7, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1106575

Khuda, K. E. (2020). The impacts and challenges to host country Bangladesh due to sheltering the Rohingya refugees. Cogent Social Sciences, 6(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2020.1770943

Kiylioglu, L. & Wimmer, H. (2015). The Relationship Between Immigration Acculturation and Psychological Well Being The Case of Turkish Youth in Austria.  Nesne-Psikoloji Dergisi, 3 (5), 1-19. https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=281988

Knott, E., Rao, A. H., Summers, K., & Teeger, C. (2022). Interviews in the social sciences. Nature Reviews Methods Primers, 2, 73. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43586-022-00150-6

Minar, S. J. (2021). Refugees and host state security: An empirical investigation of Rohingya refuge in Bangladesh. SSRN. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3949021

Mistry, R. S., Elenbaas, L., & Killen, M. (2021). Advancing developmental intergroup perspectives on social class. Child Development Perspectives, 15(4), 213–219. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12431

Murtaza, S. H. & Kiran, N. (2024 n.d.). Acculturation Stress and Identity Crisis Among Afghan Refugees in Pakistan. Voices Against Torture. https://www.vastbc.ca/articles/acculturation-stress-and-identity-crisis-among-afghan-refugees-in-pakistan

Opono, S., & Ahimbisibwe, F. (2024). Protracted refugee situations and the shrinking durable solutions: could there be a ray of hope in local solutions? Cogent Social Sciences, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2024.2395346

Papri, J. (2025, June 25). ‘I try to keep myself busy’: Working online in the world’s largest refugee camp. Frontier. https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/i-try-to-keep-myself-busy-working-online-in-the-worlds-largest-refugee-camp/?fbclid=IwY2xjawLNMHdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFtQzVOdTQwNUQwc3UwT1YzAR7JkIZFp6iluojsAHUM2R23eENBLvLwKKZ3NVzXHRIXOg1Rk0ZVuULCe3KgpQ_aem_1QYz83VMAup6mkSsn-jR3Q

Paolillo, R., & Jager, W. (2020). Simulating acculturation dynamics between migrants and locals in relation to network formation. Social Science Computer Review, 38(4), 365–386. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894439318821678

Redfield, R., Linton, R., & Herskovits, M. J. (1936). Memorandum for the study of acculturation. American Anthropologist, 38(1), 149–152. https://doi.org/10.1525/aa.1936.38.1.02a00330

Reyes, H., Hossain, M., & Ali, S. (2017). The vulnerability of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh: Statelessness and health challenges. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(8), 942. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14080942

Sam, D. L., & Berry, J. W. (2010). Acculturation: When individuals and groups of different cultural backgrounds meet. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 5(4), 472–481.

Silverman, D. (1997). Qualitative research: Theory, method and practice. Sage. https://www.scirp.org/reference/referencespapers?referenceid=1054687

Song, P., Hebbani, A., & Vyas, D. (2024). On arrival: Challenges and opportunities around early-stage resettlement of refugees in Australia. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 9, 1–28.

Sudheer, N., & Banerjee, D. (2021). The Rohingya refugees: A conceptual framework of their psychosocial adversities, cultural idioms of distress and social suffering. Global Mental Health, 8, e46. https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2021.43

Sultana, N., Sultana, S., Saha, R., & Alam, M. M. (2023). The challenges and coping of Rohingya refugees: A comparative study of registered and nonregistered Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Southeast Asia: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 23(2), 195–120. https://doi.org/10.1108/SEAMJ-04-2023-0033

Tay, A. K., Riley, A., Islam, R., & Ventevogel, P. (2019). The culture, mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of Rohingya refugees: A systematic review. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 28(5), 489–494. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796019000192

Uddin, N. (2024). Understanding ‘refugee resettlement’ from below: Decoding the Rohingya refugees’ lived experience in Bangladesh. World Development, 181, 106654. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2024.106654

UNHCR. (2025). Bangladesh. https://reporting.unhcr.org/operational/operations/bangladesh

UNICEF. (2024, March 31). Bangladesh humanitarian situation report. https://www.unicef.org/media/156186/file/Bangladesh-Humanitarian-SitRep-31-March-2024.pdf

World Vision. (2023, June 08). The most urgent refugee crises around the world. Canada: World Vision. https://www.worldvision.ca/stories/refugees/refugee-crises-around-the-world