Positive self-talk as a protective factor in the relationship between perceived stress and depressive symptoms among Myanmar migrant workers: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand experience multiple migration-related stressors that may increase their vulnerability to depressive symptoms. Positive self-talk may support coping and has been associated with lower depressive symptoms, but evidence on the role of self-talk loudness remains limited. This study examined whether positive self-talk frequency and loudness were associated with depressive symptoms among Myanmar migrant workers in Chiang Mai, Thailand, after accounting for sociodemographic factors, perceived stress, and personality traits. A cross-sectional study was conducted among Myanmar migrant workers aged 20–58 years. Participants completed validated self-report measures of depressive symptoms, perceived stress, personality traits, and positive self-talk frequency and loudness. Hierarchical multiple regression was conducted in four blocks: sociodemographic variables, perceived stress, personality traits, and positive self-talk frequency and loudness. A total of 204 migrant workers were included. Sociodemographic variables explained 8.1% of the variance in depressive symptoms (R²=0.081, p=0.008). The addition of perceived stress significantly improved the model (ΔR²=0.213, p<0.001), followed by personality traits (ΔR²=0.106, p<0.001). Positive self-talk frequency and loudness contributed further incremental variance (ΔR²=0.107, p<0.001), resulting in a final model that explained 50.7% of the variance in depressive symptoms (R²=0.507, adjusted R²=0.471). In the final model, perceived stress (β=0.226, p=0.001) and neuroticism (β=0.340, p<0.001) were positively associated with depressive symptoms, whereas positive self-talk frequency (β=−0.292, p<0.001) and self-talk loudness (β=−0.152, p=0.011) were negatively associated with depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that positive self-talk frequency and loudness provide additional explanatory value beyond perceived stress and personality traits and may represent relevant cognitive correlates of depressive symptoms among Myanmar migrant workers.