Diaspora as Practice for Young Migrants

Population mobility has been one of the most basic social characteristics of China’s reform and opening up for more than 40 years. As the main labor force in Chinese cities, young migrants have made major contributions toward China’s economic miracle as the country has experienced rapid industrialization and urbanization. However, frequent mobility has caused an imbalanced social mentality in young migrants and often leads to issues with social integration, which has made this group more vulnerable with respect to their health. This study used the 2013 and 2015 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) data of 1,007 young migrants to investigate social mentality mediating the linkage between social integration and health among young migrants. Additionally, to probe the moderating role of gender, multi-group structural equation modeling was applied to test if the pathways in the mediation model differed between young male and female migrants in a significant way. The results suggested that after controlling for the influence of age, marital status, education, and personal annual income, social integration positively impacted the health of young migrants in a significant way; social mentality mediated the action of social integration on this group’s health; and with respect to gender difference, on the three paths of social integration affecting health, social integration affecting social mentality, and social mentality affecting health, young male migrants were more affected than young female migrants. The findings of this study could help improve gender-specific policies on the health of the floating population and offer important theoretical reference and practical suggestions for future research.

We describe how a pilot intervention called "Lending a Hand" was implemented to mitigate some of the risks associated with migration among young recent migrants (14-24 years) in two small towns in south-western Uganda. The design of the intervention was informed by the `protection-risk framework', with key protection components of the intervention (positive role models/ "good" social network, safer environment, health and social support) affording support to young migrants to counter risks in their new environment. As part of the intervention (November 2021-January 2023), peer supporters were recruited and trained to provide practical assistance, emotional support, and guidance to young recent migrants. We conducted qualitative in-depth interviews with 20 young migrants (11 males and 9 females). They were purposively selected to participate in two in-depth interviews each to explore their experiences with peer support. Young migrants were eligible to participate if they were aged between 14 and 24 years and in their first year as a migrant in the town. Data were analysed thematically, and three themes on the role of peer supporters were identified based on the protection-components drawn from the protection-risk framework: facilitating access to health services, offering responsive and person-centred support and fostering a social support system, friendship and mentorship. We found that peer supporters improved young migrants' access to health and social support. They facilitated access to healthcare services, provided information and counselling services and offered responsive and person-centred support. Peer supporters in the Lending a Hand intervention played a valuable role in addressing healthcare challenges faced by young migrants. This experience offers lessons for the integration of formal peer support into interventions targeting young migrants to access health and social support services.

Background Although the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of young people and migrants should be prioritised, young migrants’ sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is rarely studied in Sweden. Objectives To explore young migrants’ understanding and experiences of sexual rights and examine their perceptions and experiences in accessing SRH services. Methods This is a mixed method study including a national survey that recruited 1773 newly arrived young migrants; a youth clinic survey that recruited 1089 youths after visiting youth clinics; and a qualitative study that included 13 interviews with newly arrived Arabic-speaking migrant men. The results are synthesised using a new ecological framework of access to understand the factors influencing young migrant access to health care based on the levels of the ecological model and the five steps of access: approachability, acceptability, adequacy, affordability, and quality. Results Young migrants understood SRH as both ‘essential’ and ‘a right.’ Their sexual rights were less fulfiled compared to other young people in Sweden, particularly for men, non-binary, LGBTQ+, those born in South Asia, without a residence permit, and those of low economic conditions. SRH services were largely unapproachable as almost half of those who needed them did not utilise them. Services were generally acceptable due to the ‘open environment,’ however, some young migrants faced cultural insensitivity, fear of exposure, low parental support, and long waiting times. SRH services’ quality was perceived as good, however, negative experiences were reported, particularly in the domains of respect, equity, privacy, non-prejudice, and consultation quality. Conclusion The access of young migrants to SRH services is facilitated by an ‘open environment’ and available and good quality services; however, they faced serious barriers such as limited access to information about the health system, comprehensive sexual education, lack of cultural sensitivity, and cultural racism.

IntroductionYoung migrants are increasingly recognised as being particularly vulnerable to sexual violence. This vulnerability is largely structural, due to the different laws and policies impacting their access to rights and services. Post-structural approaches to policy argue that policies are not responses to existing problems, but rather that social issues are constructed through policy. They define both whether something is a problem and how that problem is to be addressed. The aim of this study was to understand how sexual violence is conceived of in the Swedish policy environment and how this interacts with the migration regime to affect young migrants’ vulnerability to sexual violence.MethodsA systematic search was conducted to identify Swedish national-level policies: (1) addressing sexual violence; and (2) relating to the migration regime. 14 documents were included in the analysis: 6 addressed sexual violence, and 8 were related to migration. An intersectionality-based policy analysis was conducted by applying three questions to the relevant policies: (1) How is sexual violence conceived of in the policies? (2) How are young migrants represented in the policies? (3) How does the conception of sexual violence interact with the migration regime to impact young migrants’ vulnerability?FindingsPower is central to how sexual violence is conceived of in Swedish policies, as is access to human right and services. Young persons and migrants are both identified as vulnerable groups in these policies but as separate categories. Structural sources of vulnerability are recognised but not addressed in policies addressing sexual violence. The migration regime works largely to restrict migrants’ access to rights and services, thereby contributing to young migrants’ vulnerability to sexual violence.ConclusionAlthough migrants and youth are included separately in policies addressing sexual violence, the migration regime largely works to exclude different groups of young migrants from access to rights and services and thereby increases their vulnerability to sexual violence.

Despite the expectation that young people will exercise their agency as they transition into adulthood, young forced migrants encounter administrative, legal and normative borders that impede their ability to shape their life courses. The present article aims to explore these borders, their consequences, and the ways in which young migrants can surmount these obstacles. Based on quantitative data from the French survey Trajectoires et Origines 2 as well as on interviews and observations conducted in Rennes (France), we outline the disruption of young migrants’ life courses. The findings highlight a porous border of adulthood that seems specific to young migrants’ experiences. Whether they arrived in France feeling as adults or not, they either feel that they were brought back to a state akin to that of a child or that their transition to adulthood was accelerated and their childhood robbed. Nevertheless, young migrants can leverage different strategies to regain control over their life trajectories. The present study demonstrates that artistic practices may act as a catalyst for the exercise of agency.

Background Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services are underutilised by young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds in many Western countries, including Australia. Young African migrants, a growing demographic in Australia, face unique challenges, including stigma associated with seeking sexual health care and limited sexual health literacy, which lead to adverse SRH outcomes. The study aims to (1) develop an understanding of young African migrants' knowledge of existing sexual health services in Australia and (2) explore young people's perceptions of youth-friendly SRH services for optimal engagement by young migrants from African backgrounds. Methods A qualitative study was conducted in Melbourne, Australia, in 2019, using three participatory workshops involving 30 young African migrants aged 18-24 years. The data was analysed thematically. Results Thematic analysis identified three key themes: (1) lack of visibility and information of existing sexual health services affects service use, (2) cultural stigma associated with sexual health affects help-seeking and health service engagement, and (3) key attributes of youth-friendly SRH care for young African migrants. None of the participants were aware of sexual health services in Australia. Although general practitioners were the most commonly known healthcare providers, many participants avoided seeking SRH care from them due to concerns about confidentiality. Participants emphasised the importance of accessible, youth-friendly SRH services, recommending culturally informed approaches and highlighting preferences for provider characteristics, such as younger age, strong confidentiality assurances, and gender-specific options in provider selection. Conclusion The lack of awareness about sexual health services among young African migrants hinders their ability to access appropriate care. Efforts to promote SRH services should include targeted, culturally sensitive outreach and clear communication to address misconceptions and barriers. Adopting a cultural lens in designing youth-friendly SRH services may enhance their utilisation and improve SRH outcomes among this population.

BackgroundMost Chinese migrants have been faced with obstacles to getting access to local public health services. Young migrants among internal migrants make a major contribution to the economy. However, the establishment of their health records has been ignored. This research was aimed at exploring the status and associated factors of the establishment of health records among young Chinese migrants.MethodsData were obtained from the 2017 China Migrants Dynamic Survey (CMDS). Chi-square test and binary logistic regression were performed to investigate the associated factors of the establishment of health records among young Chinese migrants.ResultsApproximately 30.2% of young migrants had their health records established in inflow communities. Urban residence, medical insurance (insured), and lower average monthly household income were attributed to the establishment of more health records. Young migrants who were in northeast China and across provinces and immigrated for working or engaging in trade were less likely to have health records established. Young migrants who participated in social activities and public affairs activities and took type of people in touch as natives in the inflow area showed a higher possibility of establishing health records. Meanwhile, receiving health education and hearing about national basic public health services (BPHSs) were beneficial for establishing the health records of more young migrants.ConclusionThis study showed that the health records of young migrants had a relatively low establishment rate. Sociodemographic and migration characteristics, health status, public health services, and social integration factors were all related to the health record establishment of young Chinese migrants.

This article explores the relationship between forced immobility and the transnational identity of young Sub-Saharan African migrants in Morocco. The data presented in this article suggest that the extent to which people are able to make their transnational social fields work for them depends on the political, legal and social environment they find themselves in and the position they occupy within their host and home communities. The article demonstrates that such factors influence mobility options and the use of modern technologies among young Sub-Saharan African migrants in Morocco. They also lead to changes in the dynamics of their contact and relationships with family members in the home communities, which can become fractured over time. This means that life in transnational social fields can have a negative effect on the young migrants’ view of themselves and on their life course.

The Sustainable Development Goals underscore the importance of migration to the achievement of health, and global migration presents both opportunities and challenges for the development of health promotion. Despite such recognition, very little work has focused on health promotion with young migrants, including how migration shapes opportunities for positive health. This paper reports findings from a qualitative study that sought to advance knowledge of the health experiences of young internal migrants in Ghana (n = 14) and considers ways to harness these perspectives in the development of sustainable health promotion solutions. Methods included community consultations, participatory workshops and interviews with young migrants aged 14–21 years. Findings highlighted how the social determinants of health affected young migrants’ opportunities to support their health. Our analysis highlights how a lack of access to adequate food, shelter and health services often resulted in the adoption of alternative health practices, including the use of herbal remedies. Supporting positive livelihoods as part of tackling the social determinants of health is crucial to mitigate the impacts of poverty and inequalities on young migrants’ health practices and outcomes. We conclude by considering how to advance relevant health promotion with young migrants living in contexts of vulnerability.

The literature on the division of labour and labour market segmentation has generally stressed that young people and migrants are, for different reasons, the most disadvantaged categories of workers. Faced with these inequalities, numerous studies have investigated how young people represent and understand their social disadvantage. Similar research on migrant workers is very limited, however, especially as regards young migrants. This article aims to contribute to filling this gap. Our goal is to examine how young adult migrants represent their experiences of ethnic, gender and generational disadvantage and discrimination in the occupational domain. The paper is based on an analysis of in-depth interviews conducted with young adult migrants of Moroccan and Romanian origin living in the Veneto region of Italy.

PurposeVietnam is experiencing high rates of young adult migration from rural hometowns to urban cities in search of new economic and social opportunities. However, limited internal migration research has examined the well-being of this population once they are in the urban destinations, as well as their interactions with the new lifestyles in the cities. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to explore the social transition of young Vietnamese migrants into city life.Design/methodology/approachIn-depth interviews were conducted among ten female and six male temporary unmarried migrants, between ages of 18 and 25 years, currently living in Ha Noi through purposive sampling.FindingsDespite a higher income in the city, young migrants often suffer from physical and mental health strains that decrease their overall well-being, caused by the factors such as barriers to assimilation to new lifestyles, continued attachment to origin hometowns, financial pressures, and poor living conditions. Important aspects in pre-migration expectations and actual experiences influenced the psychosocial well-being of these young migrants as they transitioned into adulthood during their migration process. Migration to the city and assimilation into city life also changed young migrants’ views on lifestyles and behaviors often considered misconducts in their rural hometowns, such as premarital sex. Female migrants faced higher stigmatization compared to male migrants, often described by fellow migrants as becoming “loose” in the new city.Originality/valueThe study findings highlight the important gender-specific implications for health services and programs to improve young migrants’ well-being in the city.

Each year, approximately 1,500 Chinese youth (typically aged 15–17) migrate alone and clandestinely to the United States. While most intend to advance themselves and their families socially and economically, not all are immediately successful: some are apprehended and placed in removal proceedings. Here, immigration cause lawyers are tasked with presenting clients who might otherwise be termed “economic migrants” as uniquely vulnerable and deserving of legal status. Drawing on extensive ethnographic research, this article confronts a disconnect between the forms of belonging many young Chinese migrants prioritize—belonging to the workforce and to transnational kin and peer networks—and lawyers’ strategic disregard for these situated identities. It asks: How do young migrants reconcile their largely autonomous maneuvering with the accounts put forth by their attorney—accounts of cultural coercion, parental deficiency, and unagentive “children”? What forces give rise to these narratives, and what are their consequences for clients, and for lawyers? Tracing the utilization and suppression of meaningful identities in various institutional, kin, and community contexts, this article illuminates the ways in which young migrants’ pursuit of one form of status, namely legal, powerfully impacts their valuation and attainment of other, more discrete markers of success.

This article uses a life-course approach to investigate how and why migrants’ feelings of belonging change between childhood and young adulthood. Drawing on 24 in-depth retrospective interviews with young Romanian migrants who moved to Italy as children, the paper shows how young migrants’ belonging is shaped by the nature of social relations and by the level of acceptance or exclusion expressed by others in the receiving and origin countries, under specific institutional and socioeconomic contexts. Overall, the study demonstrates how life-course methodologies are an essential tool to capture the dynamic, changing nature of belonging.

IntroductionFemale migrant workers form a substantial portion of the global migrant workforce and research indicates they are vulnerable to sexual exploitation and barriers to sexual and reproductive healthcare. This article investigates the perceptions, barriers and opportunities to sexual health and sexuality education experienced by young female migrants in Hong Kong.MethodsThe study adopted a rights-based perspective, employing qualitative methods for data collection, including focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with 22 female migrants working as domestic workers.ResultsResults indicate that young migrants’ perceptions of sexual health behaviors and access to sexuality education are shaped by various interconnected factors at four distinct levels: individual, interpersonal, social and community, and sociocultural and sociopolitical.DiscussionsThe present study adds to the existing literature by shedding light on certain perspectives that have not been given due emphasis in comparable studies. First, it highlights the importance of migrant community as barrier as well as opportunity in promoting positive health-seeking behaviors in a culturally acceptable manner. Second, it underscores the interplay between structural forces and individual and group-level vulnerability, emphasizing the need to address structural factors to eliminate young migrants’ internalized vulnerability. Third, it draws attention to the positive dimensions of sexual experiences as a motivator for proactive health-seeking and the intricate relationship between cultural practices and positive sexuality. This article recommends a proactive approach of migrant communities to address sexual healthcare issues while public healthcare institutions should proactively provide accessible sexual healthcare information and services.

ABSTRACTThis study explores the nexus between migration and tourism by focusing on the experiences of young Israeli migrants who engage in return-visits to their country of origin. The experiences of the migrants are examined with respect to transnational theory, VFR (visiting friends and relatives) travel and conceptualizations of ‘home’ and ‘away.’ The migrants’ sense of ‘being at home’ is deconstructed in terms of familiarity with place, privacy and situational control, and sociability in associations. The findings of this multidimensional analysis reveal that the young migrants’ experiences of ‘home’ and ‘away’ is transformed across time in accordance with their sense of adaptation in the receiving country. While in terms of familiarity with place and sociability in associations the sense of being at home is weakened considerably, it is actually strengthened in terms of privacy and situational control. These findings stress the complexity of VFR experiences in the context of transnational migration.