Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

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

  • Brief Communication
  • Published:
Community Mental Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Action for Health Initiatives (ACHIEVE) and Vrije Universiteit Medical Center Metamedica/Health Care and Culture (VUMC-MHCC). (2011). Women and migration: The mental health nexus. Quezon City: ACHIEVE ad VUMC-MHCC.

  • Ahonen, E. Q., López-Jacob, M. J., Vázquez, M. L., Porthé, V., Gil-Gonzáles, D., Garciá, A. M., et al. (2010). Invisible work, unseen hazards: The health of women immigrant household service workers in Spain. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 53(4), 405–416.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Asia, C. A. R. A. M. (2002). The forgotten spaces. Mobility and HIV vulnerability in the Asia Pacific. Kuala Lumpur: CARAM Asia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhugra, D. (2004). Migration and mental health. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 109(4), 243–258.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bhui, K., Abdi, A., Abdi, M., Pereira, S., Dualeh, M., Robertson, D., et al. (2003). Traumatic events, migration characteristics and psychiatric symptoms among Somali refugees. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 38(1), 35–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bjorck, J. P., Cuthbertson, W., Thurman, J. W., & Lee, Y. S. (2001). Ethnicity, coping, and distress among Korean Americans, Filipino Americans, and Caucasian Americans. The Journal of Social Psychology, 141(4), 421–442.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Briones, L. (2009). Reconsidering the migration-development link: Capability and livelihood in Filipina experiences of domestic work in Paris. Population, Space and Place, 15, 133–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, A. T. A., & Chang, J. C. (1999). Mental health aspects of culture and migration. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 12(2), 217–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chung, R. C. Y., Bemak, F., & Kagawa-Singer, M. (1998). Gender differences in psychological distress among Southeast Asian refugees. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 186(2), 112–119.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S., & Wills, T. A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98(2), 310–357.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Constable, N. (2003). A transnational perspective on divorce and marriage: Filipina wives and workers. Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power, 10(2), 163–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cruz, G. T. (2006). Faith on the edge: Religion and women in the context of migration. Feminist Theology, 15(1), 9–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Souza, A. (2010). Moving towards decent work for domestic workers: An overview of the ILO’s work. Geneva: International Labour Organisation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferraro, K. F., & Koch, J. R. (1994). Religion and health among black and white adults: Examining social support and consolation. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 33(4), 362–375.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Folkman, S. (1984). Personal control and stress and coping processes: A theoretical analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46(4), 839–852.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Folkman, S., & Lazarus, R. S. (1985). If it changes it must be a process: Study of emotion and coping during three stages of a college examination. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 48(1), 150–170.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Forsythe, C. J., & Compas, B. E. (1987). Interaction of cognitive appraisals of stressful events and coping: Testing the goodness of fit hypothesis. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 11(4), 473–485.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hagan, J., & Ebaugh, H. R. (2003). Calling upon the sacred: Migrants’ use of religion in the migration process. International Migration Review, 37, 1145–1162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirschman, C. (2004). The role of religion in the origins and adaptation of immigrant groups in the United States. International Migration Review, 38, 1206–1233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holroyd, E. A., Molassiotis, A., & Taylor-Pilliae, R. E. (2001). Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong: Health related behaviors, health locus of control and social support. Women and Health, 33(1–2), 181–205.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holtz, T. H. (1998). Refugee trauma versus torture trauma: A retrospective controlled cohort study of Tibetan refugees. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 186(1), 24–34.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • House, J. S., Landis, K. R., & Umberson, D. (1988). Social relationships and health. Science, 241, 540–545.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hovey, J. D. (2000). Acculturative stress, depression, and suicidal ideation in Mexican immigrants. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 6(2), 134–151.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khawaja, N. G., White, K. M., Schweitzer, R., & Greensalde, J. H. (2008). Difficulties and coping strategies of Sudanese refugees: A qualitative approach. Transcultural Psychiatry, 45(3), 489–512.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Knightbridge, S. M., King, R., & Rolfe, T. J. (2006). Using participatory action research in a community-based initiative addressing complex mental health needs. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 40(4), 325–332.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lau, P. W. L., Cheng, J. G. Y., Chow, D. L. Y., Ungvari, G. S., & Leung, C. M. (2009). Acute psychiatric disorders in Foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong: A pilot study. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 55(6), 569–576.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mattlin, J. A., Wethington, E., & Kessler, R. C. (1990). Situational determinants of coping and coping effectiveness. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 31(1), 103–122.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nakonz, J., & Shik, A. W. Y. (2009). And all your problems are gone: Religious coping strategies among Philippine migrant workers in Hong Kong. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 12(1), 25–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) and Centre for Social Justice and Community Action, Durham University (CSJCA). (2012). Community-based participatory research: A guide to ethical principles and practice. www.publicengagement.ac.uk.

  • Ritsner, M., Modai, I., & Ponizovski, A. (2000). The stress-support patterns and psychological distress of immigrants. Stress and Health, 16(3), 139–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritsner, M., Ponizovsky, A., & Ginath, Y. (1997). Changing patterns of distress during the adjustment of recent immigrants: A 1 year follow up study. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 95(6), 494–499.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ruhs, M. (2006). The potential of temporary migration programmes in future international migration policy. International Labour Review, 145(1–2), 7–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanchez, F., & Gaw, A. (2007). Mental health care of Filipino Americans. Psychiatric Services, 58(6), 810–815.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Selten, J. P., Slaets, J. P., & Kahn, R. S. (1997). Schizophrenia in Surinamese and Dutch Antillean immigrants to The Netherlands: Evidence of an increased incidence. Psychological Medicine, 27(4), 807–811.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silove, D., Sinnerbrink, I., Field, A., Manicavasagar, V., & Steel, Z. (1997). Anxiety, depression and PTSD in asylum-seekers: Associations with pre-migration trauma and post-migration stressors. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 170(4), 351–357.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thoits, P. A. (1995). Stress, coping, and social support processes: Where are we? What next? Journal of Health and Social Behavior, (35), 53–79.

  • Torres, L., & Rollock, D. (2004). Acculturative distress among Hispanics: The role of acculturation, coping, and intercultural competence. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 32, 155–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolffers, I., Fernandez, I., Verghis, S., & Vink, M. (2002). Sexual behaviour and vulnerability of migrant workers for HIV infection. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 4(4), 459–473.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolffers, I., Verghis, S., & Marin, M. (2003). Migration, human rights, and health. Lancet, 362, 2019–2020.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, D. F. K., & Song, H. X. (2008). The resilience of migrant workers in Shanghai China: the roles of migration stress and meaning of migration. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 54(2), 131–143.

  • Yeh, C., & Wang, Y. W. (2000). Asian American coping attitudes, sources, and practices: Implications for indigenous counseling strategies. Journal of College Student Development, 41, 94–103.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Athena Institute, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1081, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Alida Joanna van der Ham

  2. University Center for Women’s Studies (UPCWS), University of the Philippines, Diliman, 1101, Quezon City, The Philippines

    Maria Theresa Ujano-Batangan

  3. Action for Health Initiatives (ACHIEVE), Inc., 162-A Sct. Fuentebella Ext., 1103, Quezon City, The Philippines

    Raquel Ignacio

  4. Afdeling Metamedica, VU Medisch Centrum, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Ivan Wolffers

Authors
  1. Alida Joanna van der Ham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Maria Theresa Ujano-Batangan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Raquel Ignacio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ivan Wolffers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alida Joanna van der Ham.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

van der Ham, A.J., Ujano-Batangan, M.T., Ignacio, R. et al. The Dynamics of Migration-Related Stress and Coping of Female Domestic Workers from the Philippines: An Exploratory Study. Community Ment Health J 51, 14–20 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-014-9777-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-014-9777-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation