Status and influencing factors of psychosocial stress among migrants from Danjiangkou reservoir area during transitional period

Objective To evaluate psychosocial stress status of immigrants from Danjiangkou reservoir area during transitional period and to provide a basis for psychological intervention after immigration.Methods Using Psychosocial Stress Survey for Groups (PSSG),a survey was conducted among 392 immigrants form Danjiangkou reservoir area during transitional period of migration and 388 local residents in resettlement area selected with multi-stage stratified cluster sampling during September and October 2010.Results There were significant differences in marital status,occupation,education level,and annual household income between the immigrants and local residents (all P<0.05).Compared to the local residents,the immigrants had significantly higher scores for life events (2.44±2.11 vs.1.41±1.85),negative emotional experience (2.21±2.61 vs.1.11±1.84),negative coping style (2.54±2.20 vs.1.83±2.17),and overall stress (33.00±19.31 vs.23.20±16.58) and significantly lower score for positive emotional experience (1.81±1.88 vs.2.34±1.88)(all P<0.05).The results of rank sum tests showed that the immigrants perceived significant changes in total household income,economy,transportation,education,social security,and climate condition after the migration (all P<0.05).The results of multivariate linear regression revealed main influencing factors for psychosocial stress,including willingness of returning to hometown,adaptation to social mores of resettlement place,health condition,and religious belief,with the β values of-2.524,2.679,2.872,and 2.664,respectively,of which willingness of returning to hometown was of the most statistical significance (standardized regression coefficient=-0.192,P<0.01).Conclusion The psychosocial stress status of immigrants from Danjiangkou reservoir area during transitional period needs to be concerned and specific psychological intervention and extensive social support should be provided among the population.