A qualitative study was undertaken to explore the stage-specific and culture-specific coping strategies used by Mainland Chinese immigrants in Hong Kong to handle psychosocial stressors experienced during the resettlement stage of the migration process. While direct action coping strategies of problem-solving and compromise were used by immigrants to deal with recurring, daily resettlement difficulties, cognitive strategies of positive comparisons and positive and optimistic thinking were utilized to change the meanings of these difficulties. Emotion-focused coping of acceptance and avoidance strategies were culture-specific, and were useful in reducing the stress associated with the resettlement difficulties encountered. It was also found that strategies such as acceptance, compromise and avoidance might have deleterious effects on the longer-term adjustment of immigrants. Implications for services and counseling for the immigrants were suggested. © 2002 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chinese Coping Migration

Psychology, Social Social Values China cultural anthropology immigrant Chinese human Stress, Psychological coping behavior Adaptation, Psychological qualitative research Humans avoidance behavior Adolescent male Acculturation female stress Review Social Work, Psychiatric thinking adult Social Environment migration Interviews Hong Kong Emigration and Immigration Social Adjustment problem solving