Acculturative stress and life satisfaction of Chinese rural-to-urban migrants

• Dekuo Liang

  Shanghai University of Political Science and Law

• Lei Wang

  Nanjing University

• Liying Xia

  Shanghai University of Finance and Economics

• Dawei Xu

  Shanghai International Studies University

Little is known regarding the life satisfaction of rural-to-urban migrants in China. In this study we assessed whether self-esteem and perceived social support mediated the association between rural-to-urban migrants’ acculturative stress and life satisfaction. We use convenience sampling to recruit 712 migrants who were employed at construction sites in Nanjing for the study. Results reveal that acculturative stress was negatively related to self-esteem, perceived social support, and life satisfaction; self-esteem was positively associated with perceived social support and life satisfaction; and perceived social support was a significant and positive predictor of life satisfaction. In addition, we found that self-esteem and perceived social support partially mediated the relationship between acculturative stress and life satisfaction. Our findings provide a better understanding of life satisfaction over the course of migration, and add to knowledge of psychological well-being and mental health among rural-to-urban migrants in China.

1. Dekuo Liang, Shanghai University of Political Science and Law
   Law School
2. Lei Wang, Nanjing University
   School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
3. Liying Xia, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics
   School of Public Economics and Administration
4. Dawei Xu, Shanghai International Studies University
   Faculty of Social Sciences

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