title: Stress appraisal, information processing strategies, and somatic symptoms: A longitudinal study with immigrants.
abstract: The study investigated threat versus challenge appraisals of acculturative stressors and their impact on the changes in psychological symptoms. It also examined information processing styles (informational, normative, and diffuse-avoidant) as moderators of these relationships. A 6-month longitudinal study with two measuring points was conducted with a sample of immigrants. Threat appraisal was associated with more psychological symptoms, and challenge appraisal interacted with information processing styles to predict the changes in somatic symptoms. Analytical and exploratory informational styles enhanced the positive effects of challenge appraisal on psychological symptoms, whereas styles involving avoidance and normative orientation to one's home country dampened these positive effects.
authors.affiliation: 1 Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.|2 Massey University, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szabo
authors.affiliation: 1 Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.affiliation: 1 Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Garth J O
authors.initials: GJO
authors.lastname: Fletcher
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D000071896:Medically Unexplained Symptoms; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: challenge appraisal; immigrant; information processing styles; somatic symptoms; threat appraisal