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

Mi M. Maung (Mental Health Program, Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary School, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand)
Tinakon Wongpakaran (Mental Health Program, Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary School, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand)
Peerasak Lerttrakarnnon (Mental Health Program, Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary School, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand)
Shirley Worland (Faculty of Health Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, Australia)
Nahathai Wongpakaran (Mental Health Program, Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary School, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand)
Justin DeMaranville (Mental Health Program, Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary School, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand)

Narra J
Vol. 6 No. 2 (2026): August 2026

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.