Intersectionality in Unveiling Selves: A Phenomenological Study of Psychological Distress and Resilience of OFW Breadwinners in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Economic challenges in the Philippines continue to drive Filipino breadwinners to migrate abroad. Although psychological distress and resilience among migrant workers and breadwinners have been widely studied as separate constructs, these experiences have rarely been explored through an intersectionality lens that considers the negotiation of multiple identities held by OFW breadwinners. Thus, this study explored the psychological distress and resilience of OFW breadwinners in Riyadh through an intersectionality framework, recognizing that intersecting identities produce unique experiences of vulnerability and adaptation. Breadwinning, understood as the responsibility of providing financial support for one’s family, serves as a central role shaping the lived experiences of OFW migrants. To grasp the psychological perspective the study was guided by narrative identity theory to provide a nuanced understanding of how OFW breadwinners construct their identity by making sense of their life experiences through personal stories. Through a phenomenological research design with narrative analysis applied, the findings of the present study revealed that OFW breadwinners experienced initial migration adjustment challenges upon their arrival. Eventually, they encountered family-induced and work-induced psychological distress where emotional distress was manifested as a response to these stressors. Concurrently, challenges in negotiating multiple intersecting identities in everyday life surfaced. This prompted an established (re)definition of self-concept. Thereafter, psychological resilience was developed through the coping strategies identified in the study. Ultimately, the findings of the study provided a nuanced understanding of the lived experience of OFW breadwinners, and can contribute to the growing body of literature on Filipino migrants and/or breadwinners.

Psychological distress, psychological resilience, intersectionality framework, self-concept, OFW breadwinners, lived experiences, narrative identity theory

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