LAUSR

BACKGROUND This study investigated the underlying determinants of the relationship between social integration and three dimensions of psychological wellbeing in a nationally representative sample of emerging adult migrants in China. METHODS Data on 6,084 migrants aged 18-29 years in the 2014 China Migrants Dynamic Survey were analyzed. A conditional process analysis tested hypotheses regarding the influence of social integration on self-rated health, life satisfaction, and mental illness. Perceived stress was tested as a mediator, and the locus of control was tested as a moderator. RESULTS Social integration negatively related to mental illness (β= -0.10, p < 0.001), and it positively related to self-rated health (β = 0.24, p < 0.001) and life satisfaction (β = 0.14, p < 0.001). Perceived stress had significant mediating effects on the influence of social integration on the dimensions of psychological wellbeing. The locus of control not only moderated the influence of social integration on perceived stress (β = -0.02, p < 0.05), it moderated the influence of perceived stress on the mental illness dimension of psychological wellbeing (β = -0.03, p < 0.001). LIMITATIONS The cross-sectional design impeded the ability to draw causal inferences. CONCLUSIONS Social integration was a key predictor of psychological wellbeing among emerging adult migrants in China. Perceived stress significantly mediated that relationship. The locus of control moderated the indirect effect of social integration on psychological wellbeing by weakening the buffering effect of social integration on perceived stress. Furthermore, the locus of control also buffered the negative effects of perceived stress.