FAMILY STRESS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT AMONG WELFARE AND NON WELFARE IMMIGRANTS pp. 69-90
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Authors: Gila Markovizky, Hadas Doron and Miri Sarid
Abstract: The present study explored the psychological adaptation of immigrants to Israel, while comparing between two populations – immigrants treated by the Department of Social Services welfare system, and immigrants non treated by the welfare system. Research findings show that the psychological adaptation of immigrants is predicted by the resources in the immigrant's possession, indicating that the psychological adaptation of population with special difficulties, such as – the elderly, single mothers, psychiatric patients etc., is more problematic (Ross et al. 1990Cohen and Wills, 1985). These findings were refuted by the current study, according to which, unexpectedly immigrants treated by the welfare system reported higher satisfaction from their integration in Israel, from their process of Alyia and from their life condition in Israel, compared to non-welfare immigrants). It was found that married subjects reported more familial and economic difficulties, compared to non-married, and also related these difficulties more to negative psychological responses. , The present research' findings point to differences between the studied groups regarding the experience of the immigration crisis, apparently the stresses of immigration act differently according to 'the experienced level of balance' former to immigration. Finally, the present study has practical implications, by which an absorbing state should differentiate its treatment and policy of immigration, according to immigrants' position prior to immigration. Moreover, the 'resilience' hypothesis which is apparently supported by the present study, should be further examined empirically.
