Qualitative Social Work
Volume 8, Issue 4, 2009, Pages 427-447

The Deep Plunge: Luocha and the experiences of earlier skilled immigrants from Mainland China in Toronto (Article)

Sakamoto I.* , Ku J. , Wei Y.
  • a Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, 246 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
  • b Sociology and Anthropology/Women's Studies, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
  • c Wise Careertalk Consulting Company, A-1801, Yinwang Centre, 113 Zhichun Road, Beijing, China

Abstract

A grounded theory study examined the socio-cultural adaptation experiences of 'earlier' Mainland Chinese skilled immigrants; 'earlier' refers to those residing in Canada longer than three years and therefore no longer considered 'newcomers' eligible for federal government-sponsored settlement programs. Analysis of 29 in-depth interviews and four focus groups involving 29 participants yielded an over-arching theme of luocha (deep plunge). Luocha describes the enormous gap skilled immigrants experienced between their current life in Canada and their pre-immigration life in China, and contextualizes the many challenges associated with their sociocultural adaptation (settlement) experiences. At the same time, these immigrants also discussed various coping strategies that they employed to deal with this deep plunge. Recommendations for social service provision and social policy are discussed. © 2009 Sage Publications.

Author Keywords

Professional immigrants Mental health issues Mainland Chinese immigrants Settlement coping strategies

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-71949106382&doi=10.1177%2f1473325009346518&partnerID=40&md5=2dca968acfd2a31e7ab2b0c8fc861da0
DOI: 10.1177/1473325009346518
ISSN: 14733250
Cited by: 11
Original Language: English