The role of health beliefs and practices of regional Australian immigrants on coping with immigration stressors

Immigrants in a new host society may experience heightened levels of stress associated with the processes of adaptation and acculturation. In spite of this, immigrants have not necessarily faced ill health; rather they have shown better mental health as compared to their counter parts in the host society. Although there could be similarity in the processes immigrants use for coping with health issues, these processes might differ in different social and physical contexts. So far, little investigation has been done on those immigrants who have coped well in rural and regional towns and have maintained good mental health despite immigration and settlement stresses.