An Examination of Individual-Level Factors in Stress and Coping Process

Abstract

As discussed in Chap. 2, Berry’s (1997) “stress-coping framework” focuses on the identification of those factors that function as significant stressors and impair sojourners’ adaptation to the new environment. According to Berry, both stress and coping are influenced by characteristics of the individual and the society (situation). On the group-level acculturation, migrant groups usually change substantially as a result of living with two sets of cultural influences. These macro-level changes such as economic changes, social changes, culture changes, language shifts, religious conversions, and value systems influence on an individual’s stress, coping, and adaptation. On the individual level, individual variables such as age, gender, marital status, length of stay, and field of study affect the stress-coping process. Moreover, an individual’s coping strategies and social support are also important factors influencing students’ acculturation stress and adjustment.