10.1177/0739986302238215Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences Bonnin, Brown / Search for Meaning The Cuban Diaspora: A Comparative Analysis of the Search for Meaning Among Recent Cuban Exiles and Cuban Americans

One hundred four recent exiledCubans and 98CubanAmericanswere compared on pur-pose in life, well-being, and family dimension variables. Specifically, the authors exam-ined (a) whether acculturation, family adaptability, and family cohesion predict purpose in life; (b) the relations among family dimension variables, acculturation, purpose in life, andU.S. residency; and (c) whether recent exiledCubans andCubanAmericans dif-fer on family adaptability, family cohesion, and purpose in life. Findings revealed that family adaptability, family cohesion, and acculturation were significant predictors of purpose in life. Furthermore, several of the variables under investigation were signifi-cantly related, in particular a significant relationship was found between purpose in life and the two family dimension variables for both groups. Finally, recent exiled Cubans as compared to Cuban Americans scored higher on family adaptability, purpose in life, and well-being. The saying “while in Rome ” has never had a more profound and ubiqui-tous impact than it does for a significant portion of the American population, as well as being the main driving force of this research. This statement is not intended to refer to those who travel during holidays to countries around the world, nor is it intended to suggest the attitudes and behaviors that American travelers should display while in those countries. Instead, it is interpreted in our research to reflect the necessity for millions of people of color to acqui-esce to the demands of a capricious American culture that requires confor-mity but also professes and expects self-sustaining individuality and auton-omy. Unlike a holiday traveler, the immigrant in this country faces demands of the host culture that are sustained and chronic, and finality may never be reached. It is for these reasons that we have sought to examine the relation