Toward healthy migration: An exploratory study on the resilience of migrant domestic workers from the Philippines

Abstract

Domestic workers face many migration-related stressors that affect their mental health. Currently there is an emphasis in the literature on these workers' problems and vulnerability, while there is little insight into factors that positively affect their mental health. In this study, we describe a range of factors that potentially contribute to the resilience of female domestic workers from the Philippines, and explore their relation to stress and well-being. The study used an explorative, mixed-methods design. First, data were collected using questionnaires (n = 500) to assess self-perceived stress levels, well-being, personal resources, and social resources. Then, findings from the questionnaires were validated and elaborated on in a workshop (n = 23) and two focus groups (n = 13; n = 8). Results show that participants perceived their well-being abroad as relatively good, while they also experienced high levels of stress. Workers used a variety of resources in dealing with stress. Socially oriented coping strategies and spirituality seemed to play an important role as personal resources, while the influence of reasons for migration was less clear. Employers and (access to) social networks appeared important in determining social resources. Social resources were more often related to stress and well-being than were personal resources. Findings from this study can help to design strengths-based interventions aimed at improving the well-being of female domestic workers and preventing mental health problems. The environmental factors and structural constraints that provide the context for resilience should be further explored as they influence the ability to mobilize resources.

Coping Resources for Distress and Well-Being of Filipino Catholic Migrants in Taiwan: An Incremental Validity Analysis

“…Studies (see Nakonz and Shik 2009, Ujano-Batangan 2011, van der Ham et al 2014a, 2014b indicated that praying and reading the Bible, crying, and resting and sleeping, and talking to others were the most frequently used ways by the participants in dealing with stress. The participants in van der Ham et al (2014a, 2014b) studies further emphasized family as an important source of coping with their problems.…”

The Effect of SFBGT on the Depression Level Among Indonesian Women Migrant Workers in Malaysia

“…Scholars established that social patronage and religion activities function as significant factors for comfort of women migrant workers (43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48)(49). In a like manner, some other research scholar perceived that connectedness to others (family or social support) and to God (religious activity) plays a vital role for women migrant workers' capability to cope with depression and anxiety (50)(51)(52)(53)(54)(55)(56)(57). Social Support has aided as resilience factors because it contributes to a sense of acceptance and enhanced self-confidence.…”

The Domestic Migration Stress Questionnaire (DMSQ): Development and Psychometric Assessment

“…However leaving home, migrating to a new place, adapting to new neighborhoods and lifestyles, adjusting to different work environments, all could be very stressful (Berry et al, 2006;Ramirez, Garcia-Garcia, & Peralta-Ramirez, 2013;van der Ham, Ujano-Batangan, Ignacio, & Wolffers, 2014;Yu et al, 2013). Much has been documented regarding stresses associated with international migration (Ramirez et al, 2013;Sanou et al, 2014;Sirin, Ryce, Gupta, & Rogers-Sirin, 2013), whereas few studies have investigated potential stressors for domestic migration.…”