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Table 1 Strategies and resources identified by participants to cope with being an international migrant to Canada 1

From: Developing population interventions with migrant women for maternal-child health: a focused ethnography

Coping strategies

Developing/drawing on skills

Living with emotional state

• Advancing own education

• Living with emotional distress

• Learning language

• Living with emotional wellbeing

• Managing resources strategically

 

• Parenting

Using relational strategies (formal and informal)

 

• Developing/maintaining relationships

Seeking health care

• Helping others

• Seeking formal health care

• Interacting with professional staff

• Seeking informal healthcare

• Social networking

 

• Venting

Using internal strategies

Drawing on other strategies

• Appreciating the Canadian social context

• Obtaining permanent residency (PR)

• Attending church

• Preserving one’s culture

• Dealing with a difficulty on your own

• Seeking advice/information

• Improving self-awareness

• Seeking tangible resources

• Praying

 

• Withdrawing

 

Coping resources

Dispositional

Skills

• Attitude towards others

• Child behaviour management skills

• Being discerning

• Information-seeking abilities

• Determination

• Host country language

• Optimism

 

• Prior experience

Social

• Self confidence

• Friendship

• Spirituality/faith/God

• Kinship Perception of belonging

• Vigilance

• Perception of belonging

Health

Tangible resources

• Emotional health

• Education

• Physical health

• Employment

 

• Food/housing/money/clothing/car

 

• Permanent resident status/citizenship

  1. 1see Additional file 2 for definitions.