2010 Volume 3 Issue 1 Pages 25-39
[Purpose] To examine cross-cultural stress factors and mental well-being of foreign residents in Japan in relation to personality traits and stress coping strategies.
[Design] A descriptive and correlational study using quantitative methods based on Lazarus's stress theory. [Method] 638 questionnaires were distributed to foreign residents at randomly selected Japanese universities. 143 questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive analyses.
[Findings] For the foreign residents studied here there seem to be clear correlations between gender, stress, personality, coping strategies and mental health. Those most at risk are: woman; Type A; sensitive to emotion-related stress factors; likely to adopt emotion-focused stress coping strategies. Many variables are involved, but Key factors may be identified which point to foreign residents who run a high risk of mental health problems. Women are more at risk than men. Type A residents, both male and female, are more at risk than others. Emotion-related stressors (e.g. loneliness, homesickness, increased feelings of anxiety, disappointment with life in Japan) are risk factors. Finally, a tendency to emotion-focused coping strategies (negative strategies) suggests higher risk. Residents who display several of these risk factors may require careful monitoring.
