Acculturative stress and coping among migrant workers: A global mixed‐methods systematic review

Abstract

No existing review has synthesized key questions about acculturation experiences among international migrant workers. This review aimed to explore (1) What are global migrant workers’ experiences with acculturation and acculturative stress? (2) What are acculturative stress coping strategies used by migrant workers? And (3) how effective are these strategies for migrant workers in assisting their acculturation in the host countries? Peer‐reviewed and gray literature, without time limitation, were searched in six databases and included if the study: focused on acculturative stress and coping strategies; was conducted with international migrant workers; was published in English; and was empirical. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. Three‐layered themes of acculturation process and acculturative stress were identified as: individual layer; work‐related layer; and social layer. Three key coping strategies were identified: emotion‐focused; problem‐focused; and appraisal‐focused. These coping strategies were used flexibly to increase coping effectiveness and evidence emerged that a particular type of acculturative stress might be solved more effectively by a specific coping strategy. Migrant workers faced numerous challenges in their acculturative process. Understanding this process and their coping strategies could be used in developing research and interventions to improve the well‐being of migrant workers.

Factors predicting anxiety and depression symptoms among migrant workers in the Greater China area during the early COVID-19 pandemic: A brief report

“…In particular, migrant workers with local language active skills (i.e., writing and speaking in Cantonese) were less likely to experience clinically meaningful symptoms of anxiety; and they who passively fluent in the local language (i.e., reading and listening in Cantonese) and actively fluent in English (i.e., writing and speaking) were less likely to experience clinically meaningful symptoms of depression compared to migrant workers with poor language fluency. These findings supported previous studies that found a language mastery was a key skill in wellbeing, help-seeking behavior, and successful acculturation process and low acculturative stress by adjusting with new values or norms in the new environment among migrants globally [10][11][12].…”

“…Total score can also be categorized into four levels of severity: none (<5), mild (5)(6)(7)(8)(9), moderate (10)(11)(12)(13)(14), and severe (>14). The Cronbach's alpha of GAD-7 in this study was .91 comparable to the previous study among earthquake survivors in Indonesia (α = .88) [7].…”

“…Scores on each item were summed (ranged from 0 to 27) that a total score of ≥10 indicated major depression disorder. Total score can also be categorized into four levels of severity: none (<5), mild (5)(6)(7)(8)(9), moderate (10)(11)(12)(13)(14), and moderately severe (15-19), and severe (>19). The Cronbach's alpha of PHQ-9 in this study was .90, comparable with the previous validation study (α = .86).…”

Evaluating the Implementation of a Mental Health App for Overseas Filipino Workers in Macao China: A Mixed-Methods Study of Stakeholders’ Perspectives

“…However, OFWs and other migrant workers struggle to fulfill their health needs because of systemic barriers they experience including language difficulties, adverse working conditions, lack of available healthcare providers, and inadequate social protection for migrant workers in the host countries ( 3 , 4 ). Consequently, migrant workers, including OFWs, experience higher risks for developing mental disorders like anxiety and depression than local people in the host countries ( 5 – 7 ).…”

Migration and health: Translation to action

“…However, during the process of acculturation, migrants may face numerous adaptation challenges, which are detrimental to their psychological and physical health (Choy et al, 2020). Liem et al's (2021*) review illuminates the acculturation process of Chinese rural‐to‐urban migrants and highlights the importance of coping strategies during the process.…”