Twenty-Second International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

Sub-Saharan African immigrants in the United States often encounter stress that relates to transcontinental relocation, cultural adjustment, and minority status. We hypothesized that the stress experienced by these immigrants in the Chicago area pertains to their unique pre-immigration experiences in Africa, and the struggle to adapt and acculturate amid new challenges in the US. The following objectives guided the study: to identify recurring stressors experienced by African immigrants in the Chicago area, including social, economic, cultural, and structural challenges; to examine their primary sources of stress; to analyze their coping mechanisms and support systems; and to formulate recommendations for developing appropriate community-based and culturally sensitive social and mental health support. Using a semi-structured instrument, we interviewed 15 adult African migrants to assess their experiences of stress, coping approaches, and access to support systems. Participants reported pre-migration experience of violence, conflicts, trauma, and fear in their home countries as major sources of stress. The mental and physical challenges from the process of migration, adaptation, and acculturation are compounded by unmet expectations in their new environment in Chicago. Participants reported that financial struggles, work-related pressures, minority status, and disconnection from their extended family are compounded by unrealistic expectations of remittances from friends and families back home. The findings suggest the need for a pre-departure orientation that offers migrants a realistic assessment of social, economic, and cultural expectations in the US. Ongoing education in the US should prioritize cultural and social integration by connecting migrants with resources for social, economic, and mental support.