Intercultural Couples: Coping With Culture-Related Stressors
Abstract
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify potential culture-related stressors in intercultural marriages and uncover some of the conscious and unconscious strategies applied by couples to cope with these stressors. In-depth ethnographic interviews were conducted with five intercultural couples. Interview data were then analyzed using a phenomenological reduction process to synthesize the meanings and essences of participant experiences. Results revealed that the intercultural couples studied used similar coping strategies to manage marital stressors that might be attributed to or accentuated by cultural differences. Six primary coping strategies were identified: (a) gender-role flexibility; (b) humor; (c) cultural deference by one partner; (d) recognition of similarities; (e) cultural reframing or the development of blended values and expectations that redefined the intercultural relationship; and (f) a general appreciation for other cultures. These intercultural coping strategies were supported by prior empirical research in the fields of intercultural communication and marital counseling. Further research is needed to understand better the unique stressors and coping mechanisms experienced by intercultural couples. Practical considerations for therapists who counsel intercultural couples are discussed.
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Childrearing has been shown to be a major stressor among cross-national couples compared to their same-culture counterparts.
“Moreover, childrearing has been shown to be a major stressor among cross-national couples, compared to their same-culture counterparts (Bustamante et al., 2011;Crippen & Brew, 2007, 2013;Djurdjevic & Roca Girona, 2016).”
From Parenting Stress and Social Support among Cross-national and Traditional Families (2017) · cites this paper as Bustamante et al., 2011
Cross-national couples experience unique stressors including gaining legal status for foreign-born spouses, linguistic acquisition, family ties, societal reactions, cultural complexity, seeking social support, adjusting to the new culture, and reframing cultural differences shared within couples.
“Data from such studies suggest that cross-national couples experience unique stressors.These include: gaining legal status for foreign-born spouses, linguistic acquisition, family ties, societal reactions and cultural complexity (Seto & Cavallaro, 2007), seeking social support, adjusting to the new culture, and reframing cultural differences shared within couples (Baltas & Steptoe, 2000;Bustamante”
From Parenting Stress and Social Support among Cross-national and Traditional Families (2017) · cites this paper as Bustamante et al., 2011
When intercultural couples fail to reconcile childrearing differences, children's development, parent-child relations, and couple relations are at higher risk of dysfunction.
“When intercultural couples fail to reconcile their childrearing differences, the development of children, parent-child relations, and couple relations are placed at a higher risk of dysfunction (Bhugun, 2017;Bustamante, Nelson, Richard C. Henriksen, & Monakes, 2011).”
From Parenting Stress and Social Support among Cross-national and Traditional Families (2017) · cites this paper as Bustamante, Nelson, Richard C. Henriksen, & Monakes, 2011
Cross-national couples, a subcategory of intercultural marriage, experience greater cultural variance regarding childrearing within the family unit.
“Cross-national couples, a subcategory of intercultural marriage, experience greater cultural variance regarding childrearing within the family unit (Baltas & Steptoe, 2000;Bustamante et al., 2011;Crippen & Brew, 2007).”
From Parenting Stress and Social Support among Cross-national and Traditional Families (2017) · cites this paper as Bustamante et al., 2011
Cultural differences complicate marital relationships, raise emotional distress, and might increase parental stress.
“This result echoes past research where cultural differences not only complicates marital relationships, but raises emotional distress, and eventually might increase parental stress (Baltas & Steptoe, 2000;Bustamante et al., 2011;Bystydzienski, 2011;Cohen, 1982;Seto & Cavallaro, 2007).”
From Parenting Stress and Social Support among Cross-national and Traditional Families (2017) · cites this paper as Bustamante et al., 2011
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Phenomenological research methods
Moustakas, C. (1994) · doi:10.4135/9781412995658 · Cited by 13,919 · see citing works
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Parenting Stress and Social Support among Cross-national and Traditional Families
Xiang, Y., Hoot, J., & Raisor, J. (2017) · Journal of Family Diversity in Education · doi:10.53956/jfde.2017.103 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
- Authors
- Bustamante, R. M., Nelson, J. A., Henriksen, R. C., & Monakes, S.
- Affiliations
- Sam Houston State University (US)
- Venue
- The Family Journal
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2011-02-23
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 154-164
- ISSN
- 1066-4807 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-3950
- OpenAlex
- W2111211219
- Cited by
- 103
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 5
- FWCI
- 3.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Family Journal (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Counseling Practices and Supervision
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
- Keywords
- intercultural couples, intercultural marriage, coping strategies, marital stress, gender role flexibility, humor
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