Loneliness Among African Migrants Living in Portugal

Abstract

This study analyzed the degree of loneliness, as well as acculturation and adaptation factors related to it among African migrants. The study sample consisted of 759 migrants (48.5% females) from four ethnocultural groups (Angolans, Cape Verdeans, Guineans, and Mozambicans) living in Portugal. Participants’ mean age was 37 years, and the mean length of sojourn in this country was 21 years. Participants completed self-reported questionnaires to evaluate social contacts, language proficiency, ethnic identity, perceived discrimination, psychological adaptation, sociocultural adaptation, and intercultural adaptation; moreover, loneliness level was evaluated using the ULS-6 scale. Most participants did not report high levels of loneliness. However, as expected, loneliness correlated negatively with social contacts, ethnic identity, and Portuguese language proficiency, whereas it correlated positively with perceived discrimination. The three adaptation factors negatively predicted loneliness beyond acculturation factors. This study also discussed the implications of this research for counselors.