Bridging Cultures: An immigrant woman's journey between urban and rural life, supported by a network of hearts and helping hands.

Bridging Cultures: Understanding the Well-being of Married Immigrant Women in Urban vs. Rural Settings

Samir D’Costa in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Exploring stress factors, social support networks, and marital satisfaction to enhance mental health strategies."

In an increasingly interconnected world, the phenomenon of international marriages has woven a rich tapestry of multicultural families. However, the path to marital harmony for immigrant women is often fraught with challenges, stemming from cultural adaptation, communication barriers, and economic hardships. These factors can significantly impact their mental health and overall marital satisfaction.

Recognizing the growing number of multicultural families and the unique struggles faced by immigrant women, a research study was undertaken to explore the differences in stress levels, social support systems, and marital satisfaction between those residing in urban versus rural environments. By understanding these nuances, we can develop more effective and targeted interventions to support their well-being.

This article delves into the findings of this pivotal research, highlighting the specific challenges faced by married immigrant women in different geographical contexts. It provides insights into the factors that contribute to their marital satisfaction and offers a framework for developing tailored strategies to improve their mental health and overall quality of life.

Urban vs. Rural: Unpacking the Stressors

Bridging Cultures: An immigrant woman's journey between urban and rural life, supported by a network of hearts and helping hands.

The study, conducted in Daejeon City and Chungcheong Province in Korea, involved 200 married immigrant women recruited from multicultural family-support centers. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires, focusing on acculturative stress, housewives' life stress, spousal support, and marital satisfaction.

The research revealed significant differences between urban and rural residents:

Acculturative Stress: Urban women reported lower levels of acculturative stress compared to their rural counterparts. This suggests that urban environments may offer greater opportunities for cultural integration and support.
Spousal Support: Urban women experienced higher levels of spousal support, which significantly contributed to their marital satisfaction.
Marital Satisfaction: Overall, urban women reported greater marital satisfaction than those in rural areas.
Housewives' Life Stress: Both groups reported similar levels of stress related to their roles as housewives, indicating that the challenges of managing a household are consistent across different environments.

These findings underscore the importance of considering the specific context in which immigrant women live. Urban environments may offer greater access to resources and support networks, while rural settings may present unique challenges related to isolation and cultural integration.

Strategies for a Better Tomorrow

The study concludes that rural married immigrant women may face greater difficulties in adjusting to Korean culture and marriage compared to their urban counterparts. Therefore, to improve the physical and psychological well-being and marital adjustment of married immigrant women, tailored nursing strategies are needed based on their area of residence. These strategies should focus on enhancing social support networks, reducing acculturative stress, and promoting effective communication and problem-solving skills.

About this Article -

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4069/kjwhn.2011.17.2.99, Alternate LINK

Title: Comparison Of Stress, Social Support, And Marital Satisfaction Between Married Immigrant Women In Urban And Rural Areas

Subject: Advanced and Specialized Nursing

Journal: Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing

Publisher: Korean Society of Women Health Nursing

Authors: In Suk Nam, Sukhee Ahn

Published: 2011-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is acculturative stress, and how does it affect married immigrant women?

The research, conducted in Daejeon City and Chungcheong Province in Korea, found that urban women reported lower levels of acculturative stress compared to rural women. This is likely because urban settings may offer more opportunities for cultural integration and easier access to support systems. Understanding acculturative stress is significant because it directly impacts the mental health and marital satisfaction of married immigrant women. High levels of acculturative stress can lead to feelings of isolation and difficulties in adjusting to a new culture and marriage, potentially affecting the women's overall well-being and ability to thrive in their new environment.

How does spousal support differ between urban and rural settings, and why is it important?

The study reveals a significant difference in spousal support between urban and rural residents. Urban women experienced higher levels of spousal support, which positively contributed to their marital satisfaction. This highlights the crucial role of spousal support in the well-being of married immigrant women. It implies that having a supportive partner can significantly mitigate the challenges of cultural adaptation, communication barriers, and other stressors immigrant women face. This is vital for their mental health and overall marital harmony.

What were the findings regarding marital satisfaction in urban versus rural environments?

Marital satisfaction was found to be higher among urban women compared to their rural counterparts. This outcome underscores the importance of considering the context in which married immigrant women live. Urban environments may offer greater access to resources and support networks, impacting their satisfaction levels positively. Higher marital satisfaction is essential for overall well-being, as it is linked to reduced stress and improved mental health. The goal is to foster environments that support and enhance marital satisfaction to improve quality of life.

Did housewives' life stress differ between urban and rural settings?

Both urban and rural married immigrant women reported similar levels of housewives' life stress. This indicates that the challenges of managing a household are consistent across different environments, such as the stressors associated with daily responsibilities. This insight suggests that interventions focusing on supporting women in their roles as housewives may be beneficial regardless of their geographic location. Strategies that address these stresses can improve the overall well-being and mental health of these women.

What strategies are recommended to support the well-being of married immigrant women?

Tailored nursing strategies are recommended based on the area of residence to improve the well-being and marital adjustment of married immigrant women. These strategies should focus on enhancing social support networks, reducing acculturative stress, and promoting effective communication and problem-solving skills. The implications of these strategies are to improve the physical and psychological well-being of married immigrant women and improve marital adjustment. These interventions are designed to address the unique challenges faced by these women, acknowledging the importance of context-specific support to foster positive outcomes and improve the overall quality of life.