Immigrant Life Research Articles

Presence of Anxiety or Depression Feelings and Its Associated Risk Factors among Immigrants in Korea: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

The influx of immigrants into Korea has increased in recent years, affecting Korean society and the healthcare system. This study analyzed the frequency of anxiety and depression in immigrants, which negatively affects their quality of life. We analyzed data from a 2020 survey on the Health Rights of Migrants and the Improvement of the Medical Security System. Bivariate analyses and a multiple logistic regression model were used to identify the risk factors associated with the presence of anxiety or depression among immigrants. We included 746 immigrants, 55.9% of whom were female. The overall rate of anxiety or depression was 31.77%, with 38.3% in females, which was significantly higher than the 26.62% in males. The frequency of anxiety and depression was also strongly associated with certain immigrant groups, including immigrants of African or Western Asian origin (over 64%); those with student visas (60.53%); those who self-reported poor health (52%), physical or mental disabilities (69.23%), or chronic diseases (58.43%); and those facing difficulties accessing medical services (59.47%). This study showed the frequency of feelings of anxiety or depression and associated risk factors among immigrants. These findings may have implications for policymakers in reducing the likelihood of developing anxiety or depression in the future and improving the quality of life of immigrants in Korea.

Unveiling voices and narratives: exploring the perspectives on multiculturalism and bilingualism of recent adult Chinese immigrants in Canada

ABSTRACT Multiculturalism, a federal policy that emphasises cultural, social, and political rights for ethnic minorities in Canada, is a crucial aspect of immigrant life. Concurrently with the implementation of multiculturalism by the federal government, Canada adopted bilingualism as its official language policy. Although the primary motivation for this policy was to protect the French language and culture, it holds significant relevance for immigrants, especially those residing in Francophone-dominant areas such as Quebec. Despite the importance of these policies to immigrant life, few studies have explored immigrants’ perspectives on both federal policies. Addressing this gap, the present study examines the lived experiences of six adult Chinese immigrants who arrived in Canada and obtained permanent residency or Canadian citizenship after 2010. Through narrative inquiry, this research shares participants’ stories to explore how recent adult Chinese immigrants understand Canadian multiculturalism and bilingualism. Taking a critical stance on multiculturalism and bilingualism, this study examines, discusses and interprets the lived experiences of its participants with the goal to confront issues of inequality, privilege, and power dynamics. The findings reveal that Chinese immigrants’ understanding of multiculturalism and bilingualism is shaped by their personal experiences with both policies. Participants leverage their experiential knowledge of multiculturalism and bilingualism to navigate their new lives in Canada. Although participants voice some concerns about these policies, they also presented nuanced perspectives and opinions on both federal policies. These perspectives not only enrich the literature on Canadian multiculturalism and bilingualism, but also highlight Chinese immigrants’ desire for integration in Canada.

Navigating Mediated Spaces: Screens and Connectivity in Ikebukuro Chinatown’s Chinese Diaspora

This research explores the profound impact of digital media on the lives of Chinese immigrants in Ikebukuro Chinatown. It illustrates how the Internet and digital platforms have transformed their economic, social, and identity landscapes. Employing qualitative methods such as surveys and interviews, this study underscores the pivotal role of social media in creating expansive networks. These networks facilitate ethnic entrepreneurship and enhance cultural visibility, contributing to the deterritorialization of traditional community confines. This empowerment enables the Chinese diaspora in Ikebukuro to cultivate a rich, interconnected social tapestry that extends beyond geographic limitations. The findings underscore the central role of digital media mediatization processes in redefining immigrant experiences. Additionally, they promote deeper, more dynamic integration within the host society’s multicultural environment. This transformative shift emphasizes the emergence of a more fluid, networked form of community and identity among immigrants. It challenges conventional enclave models and offers new perspectives on diaspora engagement in the digital age.

Correlates and Health Issues among Older Korean Immigrants Living Alone in the United States: A Scoping Review.

Older Korean immigrants are one of the most understudied and marginalized Asian ethnic groups in the United States, despite their rapid population growth. Many older Korean immigrants encounter distinct challenges in assimilating into their new country as first-generation immigrants, including cultural conflict, language barriers, low economic status, and a lack of social support. These issues may be compounded for those who live alone, which is considered a negative factor in their mental and physical health. However, little is known about the correlates and health issues of older Korean immigrants living alone. This study's objective was to explore correlates and health issues among older Korean immigrants living alone. Based on established scoping review methodology five databases, CINAHL, PubMed, MEDLINE, SocINDEX, and Health Source Nursing/Academic Edition, were used to find relevant studies. Twelve articles were reviewed, and four major themes were identified as correlates and health issues among older Korean immigrants living alone in the United States: depression, changed family relationships, social interactions, and factors on general health and well-being. The findings have significant implications for healthcare professionals for understanding the unique culture, situation, and physical and psychosocial vulnerability of older Korean immigrants living alone.

Mental Health and Religiosity in Older Latin American Immigrants Living in Australia

Ageing in a non-native land brings numerous challenges that may complicate adaptation and health for older Latin American immigrants in Australia. While religiosity emerges as a protective factor for mental health, there is scarce research focused on exploring the multifaceted dimensions of religiosity in this population. As part of a broad Constructivist Grounded Theory study, the aim of this qualitative descriptive analysis was to explore and understand this population’s religious practices and experiences, focusing on the impact on their mental health. Following ethical approval, 23 Spanish-speaking Latin American immigrants aged 60 and older living in Australia were interviewed. Data analysis was performed on a constant comparative basis and concurrent with data collection to understand the findings. Three key categories were identified: “Being involved in religious groups and communities,” “Connecting with God,” and “Changing how one lives one’s faith.” Regardless of their religious practices, all participants engaged in social activities that helped them integrate into their communities. Several barriers to religious practices were identified. The findings add to the field of religiosity as a protective factor in older Latin American immigrants’ mental health. Future research should identify barriers to religious practices and targeted interventions.

Les Objets Religieux Des Immigrés Subsahariens à Casablanca : Un Usage Spirituel Et Culturel"

This article investigates the lives of Sub-Saharan immigrants in Casablanca, Morocco's economic capital, where many seek economic opportunities and safety. It explores the personal objects carried by these immigrants from their home countries, which hold significant religious and social importance and are integrated into their daily lives and ritual practices. Drawing on the works of sociologists such as Appadurai and Baudrillard, the study delves into the cultural meanings of these objects. Through ethnographic interviews, stories like those of Jean Noël, an Ivorian who values seawater for its healing and protective properties, and Amina, a Nigerian student who uses herbs to alleviate headaches, illustrate how these objects maintain a connection to their cultural and spiritual identities. Mamadou, a Senegalese trader in Casablanca, uses a silver ring engraved with "ALLAH" in his therapeutic practices, incorporating Quranic verses to soothe his clients' pain, highlighting the religious and cultural significance of these objects in their daily lives.

Challenges in navigating the education-migration pathways, and subjective well-being of highly educated immigrants: the case of Indian student immigrants in the United Kingdom.

Migration is generally considered to be a driver of enhancing the subjective well-being of immigrants; however, personal characteristics such as educational attainment, migration channel, and country of origin may moderate the impact of immigrant life on expected well-being. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the intersections between the lived experiences of post-secondary Indian immigrant students in the United Kingdom (UK), the challenges they encounter as immigrants, and how these experiences could impact their subjective well-being. A qualitative research design was employed, which included a focus group discussion and 24 in-depth interviews with postgraduate students who had migrated from India to the United Kingdom. Four themes generated from the thematic analysis, which overall indicated that individuals who came to the United Kingdom as international students to study, work, and settle over time often found themselves unable to leverage their educational credentials to establish expected subjective well-being. This was primarily due to the systematic denial of their agency (capability) to overcome challenges in the host society. Reasons include becoming involuntarily immobile in the host country, incongruency between past expectations and present experiences and prospects, socio-emotional and financial costs associated with immigrant life that hinder the freedom of agency, and bureaucratic burdens. All these reasons can generate an unconducive environment for those immigrants who took part in the study, ultimately decreasing their life satisfaction and positive feelings while increasing negative feelings. In conclusion, the findings question the widely held belief that migration can increase subjective well-being and describe how migration comes at a cost, along with several other challenges, particularly for those who have moved first to learn, secondly to earn, and then to settle in. The channel of migration (migration for education and then to settle in) thus plays a crucial role in determining the outcomes of migration while influencing the anticipated subjective well-being of migrants.

Finding ‘Home’ and Navigating ‘Cultural Precarity’: Grey Areas Between Racism and ‘Hate Crime’ Victimization Among Korean Businesses

The United States has often been lauded for its reputation as a melting pot, embracing diverse cultures and backgrounds. However, beneath this outward display of diversity lies a more intricate reality illuminated by the experiences of immigrants. This study, which involved 19 interviews with first‐generation Korean immigrants operating small businesses in the United States, examines the diverse forms of discrimination and hate crime encountered by participants from various demographic backgrounds and immigration histories. These diverse perspectives, influenced by factors such as duration in the United States, gender, and age, contribute to a nuanced understanding of the challenges faced by immigrants before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The study also explores participants' experiences attributing the sources of challenges to neighborhood safety, grappling with issues related to racial background and language barriers, and contending with cultural precarity. The narratives vividly depict the multifaceted challenges within the business setting and daily lives of Korean immigrants. Significantly, these occurrences transcend differences in residency duration, age, gender, and personal experiences, emphasizing the need for nuanced and inclusive approaches to address discrimination effectively. Recognizing the shared impact of discriminatory practices across diverse individuals fosters a collective understanding, informing targeted interventions for a more inclusive and equitable society for Asian immigrants. Based on firsthand accounts and perceptions, the study discerns policy implications to comprehensively address these challenges among Korean/Asian immigrants in the United States.

Revealing the power of peer support in the lives of women immigrants from Mexico

Revealing the power of peer support in the lives of women immigrants from Mexico

Religion, Geography, and Risky Sexual Behaviors Among International Immigrants Living in China: Cross-Sectional Study.

Behavioral differences exist between countries, regions, and religions. With rapid development in recent decades, an increasing number of international immigrants from different regions with different religions have settled in China. The degrees to which sexual behaviors-particularly risky sexual behaviors-differ by religion and geographical areas are not known. We aim to estimate the associations of religion and geographical areas with sexual behaviors of international immigrants and provide evidence for promoting the sexual health of international immigrants. A cross-sectional study was conducted via the internet with a snowball sampling method among international immigrants in China. In our study, risky sexual behaviors included having multiple sexual partners and engaging in unprotected sex. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze the basic characteristics of international immigrants as well as their sexual behaviors, religious affiliations, and geographical regions of origin. Multivariate binary logistic regression analyses with multiplicative and additive interactions were used to identify aspects of religion and geography that were associated with risky sexual behaviors among international immigrants. A total of 1433 international immigrants were included in the study. South Americans and nonreligious immigrants were more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors, and Asian and Buddhist immigrants were less likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors. The majority of the Muslims had sexually transmitted infection and HIV testing experiences; however, Muslims had a low willingness to do these tests in the future. The multivariate analysis showed that Muslim (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.453, 95% CI 0.228-0.897), Hindu (AOR 0.280, 95% CI 0.082-0.961), and Buddhist (AOR 0.097, 95% CI 0.012-0.811) immigrants were less likely to report engaging in unprotected sexual behaviors. Buddhist immigrants (AOR 0.292, 95% CI 0.086-0.990) were also less likely to have multiple sexual partners. With regard to geography, compared to Asians, South Americans (AOR 2.642, 95% CI 1.034-6.755), Europeans (AOR 2.310, 95% CI 1.022-5.221), and North Africans (AOR 3.524, 95% CI 1.104-11.248) had a higher probability of having multiple sexual partners. The rates of risky sexual behaviors among international immigrants living in China differed depending on their religions and geographical areas of origin. South Americans and nonreligious immigrants were more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors. It is necessary to promote measures, including HIV self-testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis implementation, and targeted sexual health education, among international immigrants in China.

Slow (Bio)archaeology: Recovering Stories of Irish Immigrant Lives in the Huntington Anatomical Collection

I consider the power of “slow archaeology” in a study of the Huntington Anatomical Collection, focusing on Irish immigrants who lived and worked in New York City over the course of the 19th and early 20th centuries. I argue that normative bioarchaeological categories and methods cannot fully account for the varied life histories of persons in the collection. Instead, I turn to the tenets of slow archaeology to move between scales of analysis and material traces. With a slow approach, embodied experiences of labor are highlighted and discourses about laborers are challenged. A slow approach seeks to recover the lived experiences of individuals exploited in life and made anonymous in death and is one potential way toward a more ethical bioarchaeology.

Facilitators and barriers for creating a sustainable working life for first-generation immigrants – perceptions of multiple stakeholders in Sweden

ABSTRACT Employment is of high priority in the Swedish integration policy, but immigrants are disadvantaged when it comes to pathways into the labour market, and also to stay in the labour market. This study aimed to explore various stakeholders’ perceptions of facilitators and barriers for a sustainable working life among first-generation immigrants and to understand their reasoning regarding how a sustainable working life might be achieved from their perspectives. It is a qualitative study based on seven focus group interviews with participants representing various stakeholders in society. The data were analysed using thematic analysis with an inductive approach. The main theme identified that creating a sustainable working life is a matter that concerns several stakeholders. Aspects related to both society, workplace and the individual have been highlighted in order to promote a sustainable work participation. By increasing collaboration between different stakeholders and providing support to both individuals and workplaces, a sustainable work participation can be facilitated. This study highlights the workplace as an important arena for preparing first-generation immigrants for a sustainable work participation. There is a need to develop supportive solutions to be used at workplaces, formalise long-term support to first-generation immigrants and strengthen the collaboration among involved stakeholders.

The Analysis of “Hybridity” in The Lonely Londoners from the Perspective of Postcolonial Theory

This article gives an analysis of “hybridity” in Samuel Selvon’s novel The Lonely Londoners from the perspective of postcolonial theory, which depicts the lives of West Indian immigrants in post-World War II in London, as well as their negotiation of identities within a new cultural landscape. The “hybridity” discussed in this paper includes linguistic hybridity, naming hybridity, culinary hybridity, and hybridity in spaces. These multidimensional features of “hybridity” reveal the wisdom and strategies that characters demonstrate in the process of constructing identity and seeking a sense of belonging. Drawing on postcolonial theories of hybridity, this thesis analyzes how characters adeptly employ strategies of “hybridity” to negotiate identity and regain a sense of belonging, thus presenting the diversity of belonging and subjectivity in the postcolonial context through characters’ exploration and negotiation of hybrid identities.

Search for Roots in Bharati Mukherjee's Tree Bride

"The Tree Bride" by Bharati Mukherjee is a novel that explores the complex interplay between tradition and modernity in the context of immigrant life. The protagonist, Tara Chatterjee, struggles to make sense of her Indian background and her newfound American reality, highlighting the difficulties of integration and the desire for a sense of identity. The story highlights the importance of striking a balance between one's cultural background and modern-day expectations, as well as the conflicts between the past and present. Mukherjee's use of symbolism and imagery enhances the story's depth of meaning, symbolizing the protagonist's quest for identification in a rapidly changing world. The tree symbolizes the lasting link to one's roots and cultural heritage, and the blossoms symbolize the resilience and beauty that may result from embracing one's ancestry. The novel challenges readers to seek out their own roots while negotiating the realities of modern life, forcing them to confront the intricacies of their own identities through Tara's experiences. In conclusion, "The Tree Bride" offers a moving examination of identity, history, and the intricate relationship between tradition and modernity. Through the integration of magical realism components with historical narratives, Mukherjee expertly navigates the challenges of forming an identity in a worldwide environment. The novel challenges readers to seek out their own roots while negotiating the realities of modern life, forcing them to confront the intricacies of their own identities through Tara's experiences.

Migration and immigration in Europe and its edges

ABSTRACT Literature of the twentieth and twenty-first century is often concerned with migration, immigration, and exile. Zadie Smith’s White Teeth, Michel Houellebecq’s Submission, and Mohsin Hamid’s Exit West, narrate the lives of immigrants and refugees and the negotiations between migrants and host nations. They trace the transformations on the idea of Europe and how it is challenged in the face of socio-historical crises. Kapka Kassabova’s Border belongs to a long tradition of Eastern European writing that engages in a dialogue with the idea of Europe. Viewed from its edges and through narratives of migration, Europe emerges as a geographical, linguistic, and cultural space whose oneness is an impossibility considering the stories of dislocation housed in its cities.

Cultural Alienation and Identity Crises in Anita Desai's "Bye-bye Black Bird"

The quest for identity and alienation are the central concerns of Anita Desai's works. She has tendency to look into every aspect of a person's life. In her book Bye Bye Blackbird, Anita Desai explores the lives of Indian immigrants in England before to 1964, the year in which England fundamentally altered its immigration laws. Particularly Indians flying to England are the Blackbirds. The world of three people who are limited by their identities is explored in Bye Bye Blackbird, along with how they must discover who they really are. Three characters -- Adit, Sarah, and Dev takes Centre stage in the story. Adit and Sarah have a greater attraction to India following their terrible events in England, and the narrative exposes their true crises as they struggle to create their own lives in a foreign place. Dev, who had first expressed some sort of hatred towards England, has since come to regard it as his home. This paper critically examines the loss of identity and cultural alienation with reference to the Novel “Bye- Bye Black Bird".

Latinx Immigrant Health: Does Immigrants’ Perceptions of Integration Protect their Health?

Restrictive immigration policies and enforcement practices are associated with poor health and mental health outcomes among Latinx immigrants. Over the last two decades, the state of California has enacted over 20 pro-integration immigration policies to protect and enhance the quality of life for immigrants. Accounting for the nested structure of immigration policy, this study examined the relationship between immigrants’ perceptions of integration and health. Participants originated primarily from Mexico ( N = 137). Hierarchical regression analysis was used to evaluate the contribution of variables in sequential blocks. While controlling for demographics, and immigration characteristics, we assessed the relationship between California immigration policy knowledge, perceived immigrant integration, threat of deportation, and two indicators of health—psychological distress and self-rated health. Perceived immigrant integration was associated with lower levels of psychological distress and better self-rated health. The threat of deportation was associated with a decline in self-rated health and higher levels of psychological distress. Policy advocacy and access to health care are needed to reduce the harmful effects of enforcement practices.

ЧОМУ КНИЖКИ ПЕРЕСІКАЮТЬ ОКЕАНИ? ДО ІСТОРІЇ КНИГИ АЛЕКСІЯ ПЕЛИПЕНКО «УКРАЇНА ПЛАЧЕ», 1937-2015

The aim of the research. The article deals with the paths of A. Pelypenko's book "Ukraine Cries" (1937) to readers, examines the issues of Bolshevism in the Slovenian cultural and political press at the end of the 1930s, finds out the awareness of Slovenians about the events in Ukraine and the Bolshevist terror against the Ukrainian population in the 1920s–30s, the impact of the content of this book on Slovenian society through clarifying the details of the biography of Father A. Pelypenko, expanding knowledge about the fate of Ukrainian immigrants (using the example of a Ukrainian clergyman’s biography) and the interaction of the Ukrainian and Slovenian diasporas in Argentina. Scientific novelty of the research. Neither Pelypenko's writing activities nor his biography have yet become the subject of research in Ukraine. Conclusions. At the end of the 1930s, the Bolshevist terror was the first topic of the cultural and political press in Slovenia. The book "Ukraine cries" by the Ukrainian clergyman Alexius Pelypenko (1893–1983), published first in Germamy in 1937, then in Slovenia in 1939–1940, gained the greatest resonance. The book enriched Slovenes' awareness of events in Ukraine with new information and details. The content of the book was so significant that it crossed the Atlantic three times on its way to the people: it went from Germany to Slovenia, then to the USA, and again to Slovenia, and from there to Argentina, and again to Slovenia. This is an eyewitness account of real events in the village of Volovodivka during the famine artificially created by the Bolsheviks in Ukraine in 1921–1923, and it describes part of the author's biography in a slightly modified form. Fate took Father Pelypenko first to the fronts of the First World War, then to his native Podillia, and from there – to the West of Ukraine, Poland, Germany, and Argentina. The familiarity of Slovenes with this book may have helped Pelipenko in Argentina, where he received the support of the Slovene priest in emigration, Jozef Kastelic (1888–1940). The reciprocity of Slovenian and Ukrainian diasporas in Argentina can be traced through their neighboring settlements in Buenos Aires. There was much in common in the spiritual life of immigrants to Argentina as well. Pelypenko is the author of 26 books and numerous articles, all of which affect Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the yoke of communism to some extent. Interest in the events and Bolshevist terror in Ukraine in the world did not weaken during the Cold War and later, especially after the beginning of Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2014, which in February 2022 resulted in a full-scale war. Pelypenko's book shows that Russia's policy towards Ukraine has not changed in the 21st century.

Transculturalism in the Diasporic Writings of Bharati Mukherjee: A Note on The Tiger’s Daughter and Wife

This paper is an attempt to analyse the transcultural elements in the novels The Tiger’s Daughter and Wife written by Bharati Mukherjee, an Indian diasporic writer. Mukherjee’s writings reflect her own life as an immigrant, as she writes about the pain of adjusting to a completely alien land with its own culture and beliefs. Through her stories, the readers are able to catch a glimpse of the immigrant life, and their conflict between location and culture. An attempt is made to explore the concept of transculturalism in her novels by tracing the respective journeys of the protagonists, Tara and Dimple, with the help of Homi Bhabha’s concepts of mimicry, third space and hybridity.

An Ephemeral Look at Russian Anarchist Life in the United States

Abstract: In September 1915, San Francisco resident Ernest Kundy received a picture postcard from an unnamed correspondent. Produced by the Anarchist Red Cross of Detroit, the postcard featured a depiction of the Bloody Sunday massacre which sparked Russia’s 1905 revolution and served as one of the most important episodes in the history of revolutionary martyrdom. By examining every aspect of the postcard this article reveals, layer by layer, its connections to Russian anarchist life in the United States. The article begins by analysing the image on the front, explaining how illustrations like the one in question by Fortunino Matania were turned into widely disseminated postcards that spread revolutionary messages well beyond Russian borders. Turning to the information on the back, the article next explores the history of the Anarchist Red Cross in the US and the role that it played in keeping anarchism alive for recent immigrants from Russia. Then the links between the sender’s handwritten message and an area of Chicago that features prominently in histories of immigrant life, the settlement movement and the US labour movement — Halsted Street — are considered. Finally, the connections between the recipient’s family and a 1915 bank robbery in California serve as a window into the history of Russian anarchist circles on the American West Coast.