Social Support for Acculturative Stress, Job Stress, and Perceived Discrimination Among Migrant Workers Moderates COVID-19 Pandemic Depression

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the practical moderating effect of social support on the relationship between acculturative stress, job stress, and perceived discrimination, and depression among migrant workers during the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic as a vulnerable group susceptible to mental health problems.Methods: Data for this cross-sectional descriptive study were collected using an online survey from 214 Vietnamese and Cambodian migrant workers, who are among the largest migrant groups residing in South Korea. Participants were asked to report on acculturative stress, job stress, perceived discrimination, depression, and social support through questionnaires in their native languages.Results: The findings showed that acculturative stress affected depression, and this effect was moderated by social support. The impact of acculturative stress on depression was significant in the group with low mean scores of social support. However, the effect of the interaction of social support on the relationship of job stress and perceived discrimination to depression was not statistically significant.Conclusion: Our findings suggest the need for differentiated strategies to improve the mental health of migrant workers based on the level of social support.

Socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Overseas Filipino Workers and their left-behind families: a scoping review

“…In seeking health care, OFWs relied on their own personal networks, community organizations, and social media platforms (Oktavianus et al, 2022), (Liem et al, 2020). The scoping review emphasized the role of social support, often referred to as a "community of care, " in mitigating the negative impact of the pandemic, aligning with studies conducted among Vietnamese and Cambodian migrant workers in South Korea (Kim et al, 2022) and exploring the significance of faith and spirituality among migrant workers in Singapore (Yee et al, 2021).…”

Depressive symptoms prevalence and its associated factors among cross border migrants in Thailand, 2023: a cross-sectional mixed-method study

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