Часові аспекти якості життя у дослідженнях міжнародної міграції

Abstract

The article is devoted to revealing the scientifi c potential of temporal aspects in studying the quality of life of international migrants. Th e purpose of this paper is to initiate a scientifi c discussion on temporal indicators of population well-being and present empirical evidence of their importance in migration research. Th e scientifi c novelty lies in revealing the widespread use of temporal elements in the structure of systems for quality of life assessing, substantiation the need to use time indicators in studies of international migrants’ well-being. Th e article uses methods of system approach, analysis and synthesis, grouping, comparison. Th e study showed that contemporary approaches of the quality of life analysis abounds with time-dependent elements. However, conceptualization of temporality is absent there. Temporal indicators connected with duration and rhythm are most oft en used. Th e main empirical basis for studying the migrants’ quality of life in this article is the results of the European Social Survey (ESS). Th e reference group for comparing the migrants’ well-being in this study is local population. Th e integrated indicator of quality of life assessment, the average happiness score, is used. It shows almost identical overall values of this indicator for both population groups (the diff erence was 0.1 points on a 10-point scale). Th ere was a lack of territorial universality to identify a happier group because in half of the analyzed countries the locals were happier than newcomers whereas in the rest of the territories there was the opposite situation or the same values of the indicator. Th e average happiness scores and life satisfaction scores among migrants decrease in parallel with the increase in length of stay in the destination country. A separate eff ect of age and length of stay temporal characteristics on the quality of life of international migrants is established. The degree of freedom, the agency to infl uence their own lives is considered a separate temporal element of the migrants’ well-being. According to the ESS, the average value of this indicator for newcomers and locals coincides.