Acculturative Stress and coping among burmese women migrant workers in Thailand

Abstract

This study examined the psychological acculturation experience of Burmese women migrant workers in Thailand by looking into their acculturative stressors, levels of acculturative stress, and coping responses, and identifying the predictors of acculturative stress. The descriptive-correlational design was employed. Fifty-seven participants completed measures of culture shock, coping responses, and a checklist on acculturative stressors. Situation and personal-relational stressors were found to be positively correlated with high levels of acculturative stress. Avoidance coping responses such as acceptance and emotional discharge were negatively correlated with acculturative stress. Situation and personal-relational stressors, acceptance, and emotional discharge were significant predictors of acculturative stress. Suggestions for promoting positive acculturative experiences of migrant workers and future research directions are discussed.