Acculturative Stress Among Hajj Pilgrims in Saudi Arabia

The Hajj pilgrimage constitutes a complex cross-cultural journey that demands significant social and psychological adjustment from participants. For Indonesian pilgrims, profound differences in language, cultural norms, and environmental conditions often trigger multidimensional acculturative stress, which can jeopardize both their personal well-being and the spiritual quality of their worship. Consequently, this study was conducted to identify the critical factors contributing to this stress and to analyze the specific social adaptation strategies employed by pilgrims to maintain their equilibrium in Saudi Arabia. Utilizing a qualitative phenomenological approach, this research focuses on the lived experiences of three elderly Indonesian pilgrims aged over 50 years. The findings reveal that participants encountered significant stressors across five distinct dimensions: physical, biological, social, cultural, and functional. Physically, the extreme arid climate led to exhaustion and dizziness, necessitating strategies such as hydration and activity regulation. Biologically, foreign dietary patterns caused decreased appetite, while social isolation and homesickness emerged from pervasive language barriers. Culturally, the pilgrims grappled with divergent communication styles and strict social norms that provoked anxiety. Functionally, navigating foreign currency and complex transportation systems created additional hurdles. To overcome these pressures, the pilgrims implemented a combination of problem-focused and emotion-focused coping mechanisms, including cognitive reframing, reliance on national group support, and nonverbal communication. Ultimately, these adaptive strategies fostered behavioral adjustment and acculturative resilience, enabling the pilgrims to perform their religious rituals with safety and optimal spiritual focus despite the challenging environment.