Abstract
The analysis of mental and psychological health is a relevant public issue in modern societies. Migration is a process that may have a lasting impact on a person’s mental well-being. In this study, perceived health, emotional intelligence, sociocultural adjustment and the participants’ perceived general situation, not only economical, were analyzed to attest their impact on psychological distress as a measure of mental well-being. Sixty-three migrants from Romania and Ecuador were contacted twice during a 14 month period in a middle-sized Spanish city. Attrition analyses show no significant differences in perceived psychological distress between those who participated only one time or who participated in both waves. Less psychological distress is related to less attention to one’s feelings and higher mood repair in both data waves. Stronger behavioral adjustment is also linked to less distress. Less distress in time 1 led to better perceived health, sociocultural adjustment and a perception of a better general situation in Spain in comparison to their home country in time 2. In general, more attention to negative feelings triggered more perceived psychological distress, whereas mood repair elicited less psychological distress, in time 2. The relevance of understanding the impact of emotional intelligence to health promotion programs with migrants is discussed.
Highlights
International migrants represent approximately 258 million people in 2017, roughly 3.4% of the world population [1]
This study will focus on the mental well-being of migrants and the impact that their experience and relation with a new environment may have on this issue, health problems
Over time, migrants high in emotion perception would be more influenced by stress than those low in perception, suggesting that (2) there will be a weaker link between acculturative stress and mental well-being among participants who focused relatively less on negative moods and emotions
Summary
International migrants represent approximately 258 million people in 2017, roughly 3.4% of the world population [1] Their social, political and economic relevance is noteworthy, at the same time migrants are often engaged in 3-D jobs (dirty, dangerous and demanding), and work for less pay, in worse conditions or take greater risks in the job without adequate training [2]. The number of migrants enduring human rights violations, discrimination, persecution or abuse has increased in the last decade [3]. In this context, the impact of migration on a person’s social and psychological well-being and health, and its consequences for public health policies, is an important research and social issue. Public Health 2020, 17, 1206; doi:10.3390/ijerph17041206 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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