Abstract
There is abundant empirical evidence on the negative effects of discrimination on psychological well-being. However, little research has focused on exploring the factors that can mitigate this effect. Within this framework, the present study examined the mediating role of positive and negative affects in the relationship between ethnic and racial discrimination and psychological well-being in the migrant population. About 919 Colombians, first-generation migrants, residing in Chile (Arica, Antofagasta, and Santiago) were evaluated, of which 50.5% were women, and the participants’ average age was 35 years (range: 18–65 years). Krieger’s discrimination questionnaires, Watson’s Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scale were applied. The measurement models of each variable were estimated, and then the structural equation models were used. The results of the hypothesized multiple mediation model showed that the main mediator in the relationship between ethnic-racial discrimination and psychological well-being was positive affects over negative ones.
Highlights
Global processes on migration had implied that by mid-2019, about 272 million people would be living outside their countries of birth (Organización de Naciones Unidas, 2019)
Even when migrants move to other countries seeking better living conditions and wellbeing, they often face different demanding and negative situations, such as living in overcrowded conditions, being victims of sexual or labor exploitation, or other types of violence, which negatively affects their quality of life, mental health, and well-being (Bobowik et al, 2015; Urzúa et al, 2015, 2016, 2017a,b; Bas-Sarmiento et al, 2017; Foo et al, 2018; Gatt et al, 2020)
This study examined the mediating role of positive and negative affects in the relationship between ethnic and racial discrimination and psychological well-being in Colombian migrants living in Chile
Summary
Global processes on migration had implied that by mid-2019, about 272 million people would be living outside their countries of birth (Organización de Naciones Unidas, 2019). Regarding well-being in the migrant population, evidence suggests that it can be affected by various variables at both individual and contextual levels, such as sex, educational level, age, length of residence, administrative situation, work situation, social support, acculturation strategies, language, positive social interaction, environment, and mental health (Liu et al, 2017; Urzúa et al, 2019a, 2020a; Rodríguez et al, 2020) Besides these factors, a greater or smaller level of well-being may be conditioned by the individual’s level of adaptation in the host country, a process that is influenced by other factors such as ethnicity, language, religion, or an appearance different from that of the inhabitants of the host country (Martine et al, 2000). A qualitative perspective about the effects of migration and racism on the Colombian population in Chile can be reviewed in Gii-Barbieri and Ghio-Suárez (2017) and Gii et al (2019) In this framework, this study examined the mediating role of positive and negative affects in the relationship between ethnic and racial discrimination and psychological well-being in Colombian migrants living in Chile. Based on the literature review, we hypothesized that the relationship between discrimination (racial and ethnic) and psychological well-being (self-acceptance, positive relationships, autonomy, environmental mastery, and personal growth) would be mediated by both positive and negative affects (Figure 1)
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