PurposeThis paper aims to examine the characteristics, key concepts and themes surrounding the support needs of East Asian Migrant family carers in a host country. Design/methodology/approachA systematic scoping review was conducted across five databases: CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, MEDLINE and Web of Science, between 2012 and 2023, adhering to the Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR reporting frameworks. FindingsIn all, 26 primary studies met the inclusion criteria. Through analysis, three major themes emerged: culturally sensitive needs, education and training needs, and social support needs. These findings highlight significant gaps in the availability and accessibility of culturally and linguistically appropriate health-care services. Originality/valueThis study addresses a critical gap in migration and caregiving research by focusing on the support needs of East Asian migrant family carers. The findings provided valuable evidence to inform culturally responsive health and social care policies, services, and future research.
Purpose Routine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing can improve HIV prevention and care among international migrants, who are often at high risk for delayed diagnosis. This study aims to assess HIV testing prevalence, HIV-related sexual behaviors and associated factors among migrants in Okinawa and Fukuoka, Japan. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 773 international migrants residing in Okinawa and Fukuoka, Japan, between January 2023 and March 2024. Participants were recruited through migrant community organizations, social networking services and snowball sampling. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with HIV testing uptake and interest in testing. Findings Most participants in Okinawa (68.1%) and Fukuoka (61.0%) were male. Approximately 26.0% reported ever testing for HIV in Japan, and 71.5% were unaware of free testing locations. A high prevalence of unprotected sex was observed, and 24.0% reported a lifetime sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnosis. Multivariable analysis identified age, sexual history, perceived HIV risk, gender identity, housing status, knowledge of testing access, Japanese language proficiency, place of residence (Okinawa versus Fukuoka) and prior HIV testing as significant factors associated with testing uptake and intentions. Originality/value Low HIV testing rates and high levels of unprotected sex among Okinawa and Fukuoka migrants point to a heightened risk of HIV/STI epidemic escalation. Language barriers and limited access to information highlight the need for migrant-friendly screening and accessible prevention services. The findings underscore the importance of culturally tailored interventions to improve HIV testing and sexual health among migrants in Japan.
Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore tuberculosis, a disease that is simultaneously biological and social, through an anthropological study conducted at Avicenne Hospital, located in the French Department of Seine-Saint-Denis. Design/methodology/approach Using the ethnographic method, the authors conducted semi-structured interviews with migrants affected by the disease and with the biomedical team caring for them, to analyse how patients’ life experiences, rooted in their lived reality, intersect with biomedical and microbiological knowledge concerning the living. Findings Based on 46 semi-structured interviews with migrant patients, clinicians, microbiologists and outreach workers, the study reveals a deep epistemic gap in the understanding of tuberculosis aetiology. While most patients believe they contracted the disease in France, where it first manifested, biomedical professionals mainly hypothesise a latent infection acquired in the country of origin and reactivated after arrival. These divergent narratives produce distinct “regimes of truth” and hinder shared understanding. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first multidisciplinary study in France combining medical anthropology, microbiology and clinical medicine to explore tuberculosis. By analysing the divergent understandings of illness and disease, the study aims to improve communication and, ultimately, the quality of care.
Purpose This study aims to determine the quality of life (QoL) of immigrants residing in the big cities of Türkiye and to identify the variables affecting their QoL. The research was conducted in Sanliurfa, Mersin, Van, Trabzon, Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara – cities with high immigrant populations across seven regions of Türkiye. Considering immigrants as a disadvantaged group, migrants face greater challenges in accessing urban resources, and their permanence in cities affects their adaptation. Design/methodology/approach The correlational model, a quantitative research method, was used in the research. This method is used to investigate whether there is a relationship between two or more variables. Two data collection tools were used within the scope of the research. The first of these is the personal information form prepared by the research, which reveals the demographic characteristics of the immigrants. The other is the Turkish version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Short Form (WHOQOL-BREF-TR). The target universe of the research consists of migrants residing in 81 provinces of Türkiye. The accessible universe of the research consists of migrants in the provinces of Sanliurfa, Mersin, Van, Trabzon, Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara, which represent seven regions of Türkiye. Data analyses were obtained using SPSS (26) and AMOS (26) programs. SPSS was used for frequency analyses, reliability analyses and screening analyses; AMOS was used for DFA. Findings The findings revealed that the QoL of immigrants varies significantly according to health status education level, age and marital status. The research findings revealed that male immigrants have higher QoL scores than females. Young people have higher QoL scores than elderly people. Those with higher education levels have higher QoL scores than those with lower education, and single or divorced individuals have higher QoL scores than married immigrants. Research limitations/implications First, the study’s results are based on an average score, which may change over time because of socio-economic fluctuations in Türkiye. Second, the cross-sectional design of the study does not allow for causal relationships between variables, so the findings should be evaluated at a relational level. Third, the study was conducted in specific metropolitan cities, limiting the generalizability of the results to the whole country. Fourth, the sample size of 702 may not accurately represent the large immigrant population, which is around 4 million according to official figures. Fifth, the scale used may have excluded specific or contextual dimensions of individuals’ QoL, such as sexual life. Practical implications Practical implications include developing more diverse, need-specific and interest-based social support programs for elderly and married migrant groups; expanding the education mobilization; and providing treatment for those who are sick. It is recommended to repeat the study with a larger sample group using quantitative and qualitative methods. Social implications The findings also reveal that migrants who settled in cities, especially as a result of forced mass migration, cannot benefit sufficiently from the social and economic resources of the cities. It has been observed that this situation creates differences in the sub-dimensions of QoL in line with individual variables such as education level, marital status, age and health problems. Originality/value Examining the QoL of immigrants living in cities will contribute to the determination of the general situation of this group, increase solution approaches to their problems and shed light on future migration plans. In this context, it is evaluated that the study makes an original contribution to the migration literature.
Purpose This research explores the ethical and practical challenges in the care of newly arrived asylum seekers. This study aims to understand how healthcare systems in France, shaped by racial, gender and class-based biases, not only fail to provide adequate care but also contribute to dehumanisation and marginalisation.Design/methodology/approach Ethnographic observations and semi-structured interviews conducted between 2022 and 2023 with asylum seekers, NGO representatives, social workers, healthcare professionals and public servants in various reception and health services across & Icirc;le-de-France, Ch & acirc;teauroux and Bourges.Findings The authors' study of provision of healthcare for newly arrived asylum seekers in France has foregrounded the contradictions between an obligation to undergo certain medical tests and procedures and a restriction on more general access to health care. This contradiction is grounded in racialised and colonialist images and representations of asylum seekers (and migrants more generally) as both a "threat" to public health as vectors of disease and also a "threat" to national health systems because of the cost of treating them.Originality/value Analysing the constraints and impediments placed in the path of newly arrived asylum seekers who need medical care allows us to shed a broader light on the ways in which state abandonment and violence towards these racialised people on the move, create (often unintentionally) new forms of violence even from those who are supposed to be caring for and treating them. Analysing the care of asylum seekers in France makes it possible to highlight the obstacles that can influence the care relationship but also the vulnerabilities created by the system within multiple forms of domination and exclusion.
Purpose This study aims to investigate how living and working conditions, family obligations and religious beliefs and structural barriers to health-care access affect health-related experiences among Filipino migrant domestic workers (MDWs) in Taiwan. It contends that these factors could contribute to negative health outcomes among the population, including non-communicable diseases.Design/methodology/approach Qualitative methods were used for this study to understand in depth the experiences of the participants. Participant recruitment was done through snowball sampling. Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted from June to August 2023, in Taiwan, with a total of ten Filipino MDWs, two Taiwanese migrant labor NGO staff and a Taiwanese physician. The research protocol was approved by the Brandeis University Institutional Review Board.Findings Participants described shared experiences of sleep deprivation, food insecurity and heightened mental stress because of their working and living conditions. Family obligations and religious faith also informed health care-seeking decisions culturally. There are financial, linguistic and geographical barriers to health-care access in Taiwan, whereas some participants received threats of contract termination and deportation from private labor brokers. This study recognizes employers as a key stakeholder of MDWs' health, as they dictate working and living conditions surrounding domestic work, hold power leverage over labor brokers and possess relative financial capability and familiarity with the Taiwanese health-care system that could help the workers overcome health-related challenges.Originality/value This study helps fill the empirical gap in the literature on migrant workers' health in the Taiwanese context.
Purpose The global rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is a major health concern, with growing prevalence among African immigrants in Western countries. This study aims to explore the experiences of West African immigrant mothers in Finland, focusing on lifestyle patterns perceived to promote well-being or increase NCD risk, and the cultural factors influencing these health behaviors.Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study used in-depth semi-structured interviews with 29 first-generation West African immigrant mothers in Finland, recruited through snowball sampling. Inductive content analysis was applied, with emerging themes organized using the PEN-3 model, which also provided the framework for the study.Findings The findings underscore the dual role of culture in both supporting and hindering the health of West African immigrant mothers in Finland. Cultural values act as protective factors but also pose barriers to NCD prevention and healthy living. While participants retained traditional diets, many adopted health behaviors that meets Finnish nutritional recommendations. However, cultural norms and structural barriers often limit consistent healthy practices, despite awareness of NCD risks. Mental health challenges were also prevalent, with many reporting chronic stress. However, mistrust in the healthcare system posed a significant barrier to seeking help.Originality/value The study highlights the need for culturally grounded public health interventions that consider cultural strengths while addressing barriers to NCD prevention. Further research is recommended to explore healthcare mistrust and perceived NCD risk among immigrants in Finland.
Purpose The diverse healing traditions known collectively as Mexican Traditional Medicine (MTM) play a critical role in Mexican's approach to health and wellness. While qualitative research indicates the continued relevance of MTM among Mexicans in the United States, a dearth of quantitative research limits our understanding of the extent and nature of these sustained postmigration practices. This study aims to identify the sociodemographic characteristics, immigration-related factors and health/healthcare-related behaviors associated with Mexican immigrants' post migration practices of three self-administered domains of MTM (healing foods, herbs and over the counter medications).Design/methodology/approach This study administered a novel survey instrument to a convenience sample of 300 first-generation Mexican immigrants to retrospectively assess pre- and postmigration MTM practices in Mexico and Arizona in three self-administered domains: 1) plants/herbs; 2) healing foods; and 3) over-the-counter medications. The study measured reliance on MTM through two indexes created based on these practices, with higher values associated with greater usage.Findings The analysis revealed that the primary driver of sustained MTM practices in Arizona was whether the individual had practiced MTM in Mexico, but scoring higher on the index was also tied to being a woman, being undocumented and using healthcare less often. The only factor associated with premigration practices was having learned about MTM from family in Mexico, suggesting that these practices are transmitted in familial and cultural contexts.Originality/value Improving the study's understanding of the factors associated with sustained postmigration practices of MTM facilitates the ability to address health and social needs among Mexican immigrants in the ambits of culturally consonant service provision and supporting home-based healthcare options.
PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine how maternal international migration shapes the nutritional well-being of left-behind children in two high-migration villages in Malang Regency, Indonesia. While remittances improve household purchasing power, maternal absence reconfigures care relations, dietary practices and the broader ecology of childcare in rural migrant-sending contexts.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses an interpretive qualitative design informed by transnational motherhood, care chain theory and social reproduction frameworks. Fieldwork involved 29 semi-structured interviews, 3 focus group discussions and participant observation in households, Posyandu health posts and schools. Participants included fathers, grandmothers, older siblings, village officials, Posyandu cadres and local health workers. Data were analysed thematically using NVivo with triangulation of sources.FindingsFirst, remittances increase economic access to food but do not translate into improved dietary diversity because of limited nutritional literacy and reliance on convenient processed foods. Second, caregiving becomes gendered and intergenerational, with grandmothers assuming primary responsibilities, while fathers remain peripheral. Third, community institutions, particularly Posyandu and peer learning groups, partially mitigate care deficits but operate within constrained capacities. Fourth, fragmented governance between migration agencies and health sectors, combined with unhealthy rural food environments, reinforces nutritional vulnerabilities.Originality/valueThis paper offers a fresh perspective by integrating gender, migration, nutrition and community governance within a unified transnational care framework. This study highlights how structural, cultural and market forces shape child nutrition in migrant households and calls for multisectoral policy alignment to address the needs of left-behind children.
PurposeGreater understanding of older asylum seeking and refugee women's experiences and perspectives of ageing is critical to supporting and enabling healthy ageing and reducing health inequalities. This study aims to explore the experiences, understandings and future imaginaries of ageing and healthy ageing among older asylum seeking and refugee women living in England.Design/methodology/approachThe study applied a novel oral histories and futures (OHF) methodology to a focus group design. A total of 29 older asylum seeking or refugee women participated in one of four focus groups.FindingsThree key themes concerning participants' experiences, understandings and future imaginaries of healthy ageing were identified: healthy ageing futures as (i) relational futures, (ii) connected futures and (iii) secure futures.Originality/valueThe study offers valuable insights into the ageing experiences and future imaginaries of older asylum seeking and refugee women in England and to the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first study to innovate with OHF methods in a focus group setting.
PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine and highlight the conditions and limitations that caseworkers at the Public Employment Service experience when considering the mental health and opportunities for social participation of newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers within the framework of the establishment program. The establishment program aims to help newly arrived individuals learn Swedish, find employment and become self-supporting.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on 10 qualitative interviews with caseworkers at the Public Employment Service who meet newly arrived individuals in their daily work. The empirical data is analyzed using Lipsky's theory of street-level bureaucrats to understand the experiences and challenges faced by the caseworkers when considering newly arrived refugees' mental health and social participation within the establishment program.FindingsThe results of the study can be summarized into four themes: "barriers to speaking openly," "same demands but different conditions," "limited expertise, limited time," and "external actors." In summary, the results show that caseworkers felt that consideration for the mental health and opportunities for social participation of newly arrived refugees was very limited within the framework of the establishment program. Despite the good intentions of the program, the special vulnerability of the newcomers was not sufficiently taken into account. The caseworkers recognized themselves in the description of street-level bureaucrats who are influenced by routines and legislation but simultaneously face complex cases that require discretion, although this freedom is hindered by time constraints and lack of knowledge.Originality/valueThe originality of the study primarily lies in its focus on the experiences of the caseworkers who work directly with newly arrived refugees within the framework of the Swedish establishment program. Previous research has focused more on legislation, policy or the refugees' own experiences. This study contributes an important perspective from those who actually implement the program and interpret the guidelines in their interactions with individuals. It also focuses on a specific program and context, the Swedish establishment program and the administrative support documents used within it. By examining the caseworkers' experiences within this specific national context, the study provides context-specific knowledge that is relevant to Swedish integration policy and practice.
PurposeBecause refugees deal with significant trauma during their displacements, they experience adverse health effects and poor life experiences. This study aims to examine the predictors of refugees' mental health, emotional well-being and life satisfaction.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a cross-sectional design with a quantitative methodology using public data. Seven hundred and forty-five refugee participants from Myanmar who relocated to Bangladesh completed a questionnaire.FindingsMultiple regression findings revealed that stability, sociability and self-worth predicted mental health and life satisfaction. In addition, gender, age, stability and self-worth predicted emotional well-being.Originality/valueThe paper's findings provide meaningful insights into addressing health and well-being concerns in refugee populations.
PurposeAccess to timely, pediatric-specific medical care is critical for every acutely ill child to prevent complications, long-term disability and untimely death. This is particularly important in contexts such as immigration detention facilities, which pose unique risks to children. This study aims to analyze the quality of acute medical care of common childhood illnesses that was delivered in a family immigration detention facility in the US.Design/methodology/approachA retrospective observational study was conducted of 165 children who were detained at the Karnes Family Residential Facility from June 2018 to October 2020. Acute care visits completed at the facility were reviewed. Chart notes for three of the top six chief complaints (i.e. cough, fever and diarrhea) were analyzed for a series of quality measures derived from national clinical guidelines.FindingsThe analysis revealed significant deviations from clinical standards, including incomplete clinical assessment, a failure to determine a clinical diagnosis and inappropriate prescribing. These deviations were noted with alarming frequency, suggesting a systemic failure in adherence to standards of care.Social implicationsDetention is never in the best interest of the child and must end. However, as long as immigrant children remain detained in the USA, they must receive age-appropriate health care that meets quality standards. Critical review, external oversight and reforms of medical care in immigration detention are essential to ensure that children are protected from the preventable increased morbidity and mortality associated with this setting.Originality/valueAmple research has documented the inadequacy of health care in US immigration detention for adults; however, empiric data on pediatric care in these facilities remain limited. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to examine pediatric acute care using primary data from children's medical records.
PurposeMigrants and refugees face barriers to accessing health information, including language, culture and administrative complexity, which limit their use of health-care services. This study aims to map and characterise the health information resources used by Spanish NGOs for migrants and refugees. Particular attention was given to languages, formats and topics to examine how these materials address linguistic and cultural barriers and facilitate access to care.Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory descriptive study used the GuiaONGs directory to identify NGOs working with migrants in Spain. A total of 1,927 documents were collected, catalogued and analysed in terms of language, translation, format and thematic focus. Thematic analysis classified content into key health-related and administrative topics.FindingsMost materials were multilingual. Aside from 131 Spanish-only documents and four image-only files, all others were available in Spanish plus at least one additional language, most commonly French, English and Arabic, with some African languages (Wolof, Bambara, Fulah). Formats were predominantly text-based, especially information sheets and leaflets, while audiovisual resources were rare. Eleven thematic areas were identified, including health system access, COVID-19, chronic and infectious diseases, mental health, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence and female genital mutilation. Many documents combined clinical information with administrative guidance.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is limited to health information materials used by NGOs operating in the Spanish context and reflects specific institutional arrangements, funding frameworks and migration dynamics. Its exploratory and descriptive design does not assess the effectiveness, reception or impact of the materials on migrant populations. Nevertheless, the analytical categories and structural patterns identified offer a transferable framework for examining NGO-mediated health information provision in other settings, provided they are revalidated in relation to local health systems, migration regimes and organisational landscapes. Future research should build on this work through evaluative and comparative approaches.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that NGOs would benefit from greater institutional support to diversify formats, particularly through the development of audiovisual and low-literacy-friendly resources, and to strengthen cultural adaptation processes beyond translation. For public health institutions and policymakers, the results highlight the importance of recognising and supporting the work carried out by NGOs while avoiding an over-reliance on third-sector initiatives to address health communication needs. Ensuring equitable access to health information for migrant populations should be understood as a shared institutional responsibility embedded within public health systems.Social implicationsBy documenting the scope, themes, languages, and formats of health information materials used with migrant populations, this study sheds light on persistent inequalities in access to health information. The predominance of text-based resources and the uneven thematic coverage risk excluding individuals with limited literacy or educational backgrounds. Improving culturally and linguistically adapted health communication can contribute to reducing barriers to healthcare access, enhancing health literacy and supporting more inclusive public health responses. Strengthening collaboration between NGOs and public institutions is essential to address structural inequalities affecting migrants' access to health-related information and services.Originality/valueThis study offers the first systematic mapping of NGO health information resources for migrants in Spain. It highlights the scale of multilingual provision, the predominance of text-based formats and the frequent integration of health and administrative guidance, illustrating NGOs' intermediary role in promoting equitable access to information.
PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine the mediating role of community health services and the moderating role of formal social support in the relationship between migration trajectory and individuals' quality of life (QoL).Design/methodology/approachUsing data from 16,604 adults aged 45 and above in the nationally representative 2014 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, this study used sequence analysis to identify typical migration trajectory patterns and conditional process analysis to examine their impact mechanisms on QoL.FindingsThis study found that the migration trajectories of Chinese adults can be divided into six clusters: "non-migrants," "infrequent migrants," "young adult migrants," "late adult migrants," "late life migrants," and "frequent migrants." The clusters of late-adult migrants and late life migrants had a significant direct effect on health-related QoL. Community health services played a mediating role in the relationship between late adult and late life migration trajectory types and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Formal social support moderated the direct effect of young adult, late adult and late life migration trajectories and HRQoL.Practical implicationsPolicy should differentiate between migrant types, offering targeted health services for early migrants and human capital training for all to maintain labor market competitiveness. Formal social support should prioritize disadvantaged migration trajectory groups to enhance their social welfare.Originality/valueThese findings advanced their understanding of how migration trajectory affected QoL by moving beyond single events to demonstrate the value of examining migration histories for their longitudinal health impacts.
PurposeThis study aims to explore the social exclusion and the everyday practices of boundary-making and identity negotiation of the repatriated Tibetan Muslim community residing in Jammu and Kashmir since 1960. This study highlights the effect of the State Subject law of Jammu and Kashmir, which, in effect, denied the community rights-based citizenship, creating juridical liminality for Tibetan Muslims. This liminal legal status became a major factor in their social exclusion and gave rise to new social, political and economic structures with which they had to negotiate on a daily basis.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a qualitative research design to achieve its objectives. Through purposive and snowball sampling techniques, twenty two (22) participants were recruited. Access was facilitated through two key informants. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, which allowed for a greater depth of exploration of the participants' stories.FindingsThis study demonstrates how juridical liminality, complex geopolitical location and questions of identity contributed to social exclusion of Tibetan Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir.Research limitations/implicationsThis study extends the concept of juridical liminality by demonstrating how prolonged legal ambiguity produces various forms of social exclusion. It contributes to citizenship and diasporic studies by foregrounding lived, negotiated belonging beyond formal legal status. Additionally, it brings attention to the under researched Tibetan Muslim community in Jammu and Kashmir, enriching scholarship on exile and minority identities. The findings also call for policy and comparative research on marginalised communities in complex geopolitical contexts and borderland regions.Practical implicationsThis study emphasises the need for inclusive citizenship and legal reforms to prevent social exclusion and prolonged juridical liminality, and to ensure equal access to education, employment and political participation for Tibetan Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir.Social implicationsThis study highlights how prolonged legal ambiguity shapes everyday experiences of stigma, marginalisation and identity negotiation within society.Originality/valueBy contextualising the Tibetan experience of exile within the broader discussions, this paper, through interviews, policy analysis and ethnographic research, highlights how exclusion is both institutionally created and socially experienced.
PurposeThis study aims to examine how migration in Yemen adversely influences child health and development by mounting rates of stunting, wasting and malnutrition, while also disrupting essential healthcare services and contributing to long-term cognitive and physical damages among migrant children. Design/methodology/approachThis study analyzes data from the 2022–2023 Yemen Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, covering 19,604 children in 22,000 households, to assess the impact of maternal migration motives including economic, conflict-related and marriage on child health using logistic and negative binomial regression models. FindingsThis study found that maternal migration due to economic motive in Yemen significantly increased child malnutrition risks, while marriage-related migration reduced wasting and underweight but increased sickness prevalence. Furthermore, male children and those from the underprivileged households were more vulnerable, particularly to wasting. However, regional differences showed children in Al Jawf had the highest probabilities of wasting and underweight, Raymah had the highest stunting rates and urban residency was related to more frequent illness. Originality/valueAddressing migration-related vulnerabilities requires targeted nutrition programs in high-risk governorates led by Ministry of Public Health and Population and partners, and Primary Health Care-based health packages for newly arrived married migrants. In addition, economic pressures should be mitigated through shock-responsive cash support administered by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor.
PurposeThis study investigates how acculturation strategies (separation, marginalization, assimilation and integration) relate to social anxiety among adolescents in Burmese American refugee communities. It also examines whether peer support moderates these relationships. This study aims to identify social and cultural factors that contribute to or protect against anxiety in this underserved population, informing targeted, culturally responsive mental health interventions.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional survey was conducted with 105 adolescents in Burmese American refugee communities (ages 10-19) in a Midwestern US city. Participants completed validated measures of acculturation, social anxiety and peer social support. Multiple moderation regression analyses tested whether peer support moderated the associations between each acculturation strategy and social anxiety, controlling for gender and age.FindingsMarginalization was the only acculturation strategy significantly associated with greater social anxiety. Peer support moderated this relationship, weakening the impact of marginalization on anxiety. No significant moderation effects were found for other acculturation strategies. Female participants reported higher levels of social anxiety than males. These findings suggest that peer support can partially buffer the psychological risks associated with cultural disconnection.Social implicationsThese findings suggest that schools and community organizations serving adolescents in Burmese American refugee communities should prioritize inclusive peer-network building and culturally grounded group supports, because peer support can meaningfully buffer the social-anxiety risk associated with marginalization.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is one of the first to examine the intersection of acculturation strategies, peer support and social anxiety among adolescents in Burmese American refugee communities, a population that remains underrepresented in mental health research. It provides culturally specific evidence highlighting marginalization as a key psychological risk factor and peer support as a potential protective buffer.
PurposeCanada dramatically revised its parents/grandparents (PGP) immigration sponsorship program in 2014. The extended 20-year sponsoring period may greatly affect their quality of life and well-being. A study of the effects of PGP policy on sponsored older immigrants is necessary to determine their needs and facilitate their well-being. By exploring their lived experiences, this study aims to promote policy changes and ensure the care needs of a diverse aging population are met, thereby facilitating inclusive aging strategies and social care approaches that are essential for a just society.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on an interpretive qualitative research design. 40 in-depth interviews, including 26 with sponsored Chinese parents, 12 with sponsoring offspring and 2 with social workers, were conducted.FindingsIntergenerational relations and housing arrangements are the two key factors that affect sponsored PGPs' satisfaction with life and well-being. Sponsored PGPs who desire and achieve independence typically lead a more satisfying existence than those who rely financially on children and co-reside with them. The PGP program has not facilitated their self-reliance, and its forced dependence, especially through limiting universal seniors' benefits and denial of social assistance, makes PGPs' lives harder, undermines their autonomy and well-being, and expands poverty, elder abuse and neglect, and isolation.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is specific to sponsored PGPs from China immigrating to Canada, so its findings may not apply to other ethnic communities or settings. I suggest future comparative studies of sponsored PGPs from other countries with family reunification traditions.Practical implicationsForced dependence, especially through the denial of social assistance and the limiting of senior benefits, makes the lives of sponsored PGPs harder, deepens the gap between their desired independence and actual independence, weakens their agency and autonomy and undermines their government of the self. The PGP program cannot grant sponsored PGPs entrepreneurial spirit and facilitate their self-reliance, satisfaction with life and well-being; instead, it leads to intergenerational conflict, sometimes damaging family bonds and inhibits the possibility of independent housing for PGPs, especially for those less well-off, thus deepening social problems such as EAN, mental health issues, poverty and isolation.Social implicationsThe PGP immigration program especially its forced dependence, targets sponsored PGPs, intertwined with other stigmatizing dynamics such as ageism, racism and worthiness in the state's power relations, not only enables the state to download its collective responsibility onto immigrant families, but also justifies its othering and discriminatory practices on sponsored older immigrants by problematizing their age, health and living ability, indicating Canada's immigration regime remains racialized and racializing.Originality/valueThis study contributes conceptually and empirically to governmentality perspectives on immigration policy and immigrant governance, especially by illuminating the neoliberal frictions in the governance of sponsored older immigrants and revealing a new "minimalist biopolitics" in the form of "dependent biopolitics." It expands and deepens understanding of later-life immigration and the complexities facing immigrant families, promotes policy changes and service improvements, and contributes to reducing social problems.
PurposeThis study aims to examine the role of absence of family on the education outcomes, labor market position and mental health of unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs) in Finland.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used Finnish register data covering 1991-2015 from a Nordic study titled Coming of Age in Exile that studied how socio-economic and health inequities develop during the formative years in young refugees (in Finland born between 1976 and 1999). From this data the authors identified 1,361 unaccompanied URMs born before 1997 who settled in Finland before 2010 and whom they followed until 2015. The comparison groups were accompanied refugee-origin minors (n = 10,264) and URMs whose parents immigrated later (n = 233). The methods were descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis.FindingsAccompanied refugee-origin youth completed more education and were more often employedthan URMs who lived in Finland without their families. This was mainly connected to their early migration age and living with their parents. URMs without a parent had the worst mental health outcomes: they had higher odds of using psychiatric care, had more mood and anxiety diagnoses and were prescribed antidepressants, anxiolytics or sedatives more often.Research limitations/implicationsOne limitation of this study is that the authors do not know exactly how representative the register data on URMs is, as there are no means to validate it. They were able to obtain information on 1,594 URMs, comprising 36.2 % of the approximately 4,400 URMs who arrived in Finland between 1991 and 2010, by using other sources. Since demographic, socioeconomic and health information on URMs appears in national registers, they must have been granted residence permits in Finland. In addition, the subjective experiences of URMs who settled in Finland were missing in this register study.Practical implicationsThe negative impact of family separation on children's wellbeing stress the importance of family and that transnational family connections should be acknowledged in social work with URMs (Seidel et al., 2022). In addition to revisiting family reunification policies in Finland and elsewhere, family-based foster care could support the wellbeing of unaccompanied refugee minors (Kauhanen et al., 2022; Kuusisto-Arponen, 2016).Social implicationsIn the absence of family, the formation of family-like relationships (Tiilikainen et al., 2023) could become an important foundation for wellbeing of URMs. Living with one's family markedly improves the wellbeing of URMs and should be considered in migration policies that deal with family reunification.Originality/valueThere are few register-based studies of URMs. Living without family when settling into a new country as a teenager may cause a deterioration in the mental health of URMs, which in turn may lower their study skills and ability to work. Living with one's family markedly improves the wellbeing of URMs and should be considered in migration policies that deal with family reunification
