Community Mental Health Journal
Volume 51, Issue 1, 2014, Pages 14-20

The Dynamics of Migration-Related Stress and Coping of Female Domestic Workers from the Philippines: An Exploratory Study (Article)

van der Ham A.J.* , Ujano-Batangan M.T. , Ignacio R. , Wolffers I.
  • a Athena Institute, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1081, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, Netherlands
  • b University Center for Women’s Studies (UPCWS), University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, 1101, Philippines
  • c Action for Health Initiatives (ACHIEVE), Inc., 162-A Sct. Fuentebella Ext., Quezon City, 1103, Philippines
  • d Afdeling Metamedica, VU Medisch Centrum, Van der Boechorststraat 7, Amsterdam, 1081 BT, Netherlands

Abstract

Female domestic workers face many migration-related stressors that affect their mental health, but we know little about the dynamics of stress and coping in different migration phases. This exploratory study aims to assess stress and coping of female migrant domestic workers from the Philippines in different phases of the migration process; prior to migration, in the country of destination and upon return to the Philippines. Data were collected in 2010 using questionnaires (N = 500). Validation of findings took place in a work shop (23 participants) and two focus groups (13 and 8 participants). Stress levels of women were significantly higher abroad than in the Philippines. Stress and coping in the Philippines was primarily related to financial issues, while stress and coping abroad related more strongly loneliness, working conditions and employers. Findings from this study provide insight in the phase-specific and transnational dimensions of stress and coping. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Migration domestic work Stress Mental health Coping

Index Keywords

Interpersonal Relations human middle aged Stress, Psychological mental stress Adaptation, Psychological social support ethnology human relation Young Adult Humans Occupations psychology Adolescent occupation female risk factor Risk Factors reproducibility adaptive behavior Reproducibility of Results questionnaire women's health Questionnaires adult migration Emigration and Immigration Loneliness Philippines etiology
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84922096669&doi=10.1007%2fs10597-014-9777-9&partnerID=40&md5=4f9a6b57eb05924bb6ede88397e1bb77
DOI: 10.1007/s10597-014-9777-9
ISSN: 00103853
Cited by: 11
Original Language: English