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Cultural adaptation and mental health among male internal migrants
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2026.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
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| _version_ | 1867613880554881024 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Filtane, Iphendule |
| author2 | Ratele, Kopano |
| author_browse | Filtane, Iphendule Ratele, Kopano |
| author_facet | Ratele, Kopano Filtane, Iphendule |
| author_sort | Filtane, Iphendule |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/135985 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:43:10.408Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/135985 Cultural adaptation and mental health among male internal migrants Filtane, Iphendule Ratele, Kopano Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology. Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. Filtane, I. 2026. Cultural adaptation and mental health among male internal migrants. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/528d5242-2228-4e44-90b3-d6e8fa5fcb86 Background. Migration can impact the mental health of migrants due to the adversities migrants endure or support they enjoy as they acclimatise to the new environment. The focus of this research project is on understudied migration category, namely, internal migration. The way internal migrants conceptualise and understand mental health is largely dependent on perceived or real cultural differences. Historically, internal migration in South Africa occurred predominantly for work as people, predominantly men, sought to provide for themselves and their families. Individuals experienced cultural adaptation in different ways and the manner of adapting, or not fully adapting, to unfamiliar norms affected the individuals’ mental health positively or adversely. Internal migration, for economic, educational, family or other reasons, continues to be significant phenomenon in post-apartheid society, thus making it a relevant topic to investigate. Therefore, this study aimed to examine cultural adaptation and mental health among male internal migrants. Methodology. Sixteen participants were recruited using purposive and snowball recruitment methods. Semi-structured interviews were conducted online by way of Microsoft Teams or in-person in a private office in the psychology department. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed using manual transcription, and analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis. Acculturation theory and Kleinman’s explanatory model of illness were employed as the theoretical frameworks that underpinned the interpretation of the findings. Findings. Five themes and seventeen subthemes that reflected cultural adaptation and mental health among the male internal migrants were generated, namely: 1) navigating cultural change, 2) structural and historical factors related to cultural change, 3) interpersonal belonging and support of migrants, 4) resilience, identity, and life change, and 5) mental and emotional health. The findings indicate that individuals contextualise migration and conceptualise their environment and culture by reflecting on the cultural differences while also navigating cultural adaptation. Discussions relating to cultural differences and adaptation facilitated how migrants understand and relate to other individuals in the new cultural environment while navigating social connections. Participants highlighted migrating and adapting to new cultural values and norms requires resilience, identity formation, and personal growth. Finally, discussions on migration resulted in understanding how participants conceptualise mental and emotional health while considering the indicators of psychological distress and their coping strategies. Conclusion. This research project addressed the gap in the literature relating to cultural adaptation and mental health among male internal migrants. The project highlighted the influence cultural and societal values and norms have on how male migrants experience and understand psychological health. Thus, this study provides an opportunity to gather information on mental health interventions for a specific and often neglected group, while offering a possibility to contribute to the knowledge among policy makers and community leaders. Future research should focus on cultural adaptation and mental health on females, queer and nonbinary individuals, and other neglected groups as this study focused on Xhosa male internal migrants. Masters 2026-04-17T07:27:15Z 2026-04-17T07:27:15Z 2026-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135985 en Stellenbosch University 205 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Filtane, Iphendule Cultural adaptation and mental health among male internal migrants |
| title | Cultural adaptation and mental health among male internal migrants |
| title_full | Cultural adaptation and mental health among male internal migrants |
| title_fullStr | Cultural adaptation and mental health among male internal migrants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cultural adaptation and mental health among male internal migrants |
| title_short | Cultural adaptation and mental health among male internal migrants |
| title_sort | cultural adaptation and mental health among male internal migrants |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135985 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT filtaneiphendule culturaladaptationandmentalhealthamongmaleinternalmigrants |