Stress, coping and resilence in a sample of Zimbabwean migrants living in Pinetown, South Africa.

Abstract

This study examined the levels of stress, resilience and coping strategies in a sample of 120 Zimbabwean migrants residing in the Pinetown area. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire and three instruments: the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and the Brief Coping Orientation for Problems Experienced (COPE) inventory. The results showed high levels of perceived helplessness and low levels of perceived self-efficacy on the Perceived Stress Scale 10. Competence and spirituality were the most endorsed attributes of resilience. Religion and planning were the most frequently used coping strategies. Religiosity had a significantly positive association with emotion-focused coping and resilience. Stress was negatively related to resilience. The results suggest that health promotion programmes for migrants should take into consideration the importance of religious/spiritual intervention and problem-solving skills to reduce stress effectively.