Post-migration Adjustment Research Articles

Göç Sonrası Uyum Sürecı̇nde İş Rolünün Coğrafi Ağırlıklı Poisson Regresyon İle İncelenmesi: Van Örneği

Migration is a process of social change that involves the geographical relocation of people from one settlement to another, either permanently or temporarily, in order to spend all or part of their future lives. Van province is among the provinces receiving migration due to its geopolitical location and level of development. Migrant individuals need to adapt to that society in order to normalise their relations with the resident population over time. Individuals are in constant contact with the society due to the work done after migration, so it is thought that the work done has an important effect on the adaptation process. In this study, the effect of work on the post-migration adjustment process of individuals migrating from the first and second degree border neighbouring provinces of Van province was analysed using Poisson and Geographically Weighted Poisson Regression methods. The aim of the study is to determine the relationship between the contribution of work in the post-migration adjustment process and independent variables and to analyse which of the models used for the analysis gives stronger results. In the study, a face-to-face survey was conducted with 440 individuals and it was observed that the Geographically Weighted Poisson Regression method gave stronger results according to AIC, AICc and R^2 values. In addition, the effect and significance of the relationship between the dependent variable and independent variables according to provinces and districts are visualised and given with maps.

Adjustment of refugee children and adolescents in Australia: outcomes from wave three of the Building a New Life in Australia study

BackgroundHigh-income countries like Australia play a vital role in resettling refugees from around the world, half of whom are children and adolescents. Informed by an ecological framework, this study examined the post-migration adjustment of refugee children and adolescents 2–3 years after arrival to Australia. We aimed to estimate the overall rate of adjustment among young refugees and explore associations with adjustment and factors across individual, family, school, and community domains, using a large and broadly representative sample.MethodsData were drawn from Wave 3 of the Building a New Life in Australia (BNLA) study, a nationally representative, longitudinal study of settlement among humanitarian migrants in Australia. Caregivers of refugee children aged 5–17 (N = 694 children and adolescents) were interviewed about their children’s physical health and activity, school absenteeism and achievement, family structure and parenting style, and community and neighbourhood environment. Parent and child forms of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were completed by caregivers and older children to assess social and emotional adjustment.ResultsSound adjustment according to the SDQ was observed regularly among young refugees, with 76-94% (across gender and age) falling within normative ranges. Comparison with community data for young people showed that young refugees had comparable or higher adjustment levels than generally seen in the community. However, young refugees as a group did report greater peer difficulties. Bivariate and multivariate linear regression analyses showed that better reported physical health and school achievement were associated with higher adjustment. Furthermore, higher school absenteeism and endorsement of a hostile parenting style were associated with lower adjustment.ConclusionsThis is the first study to report on child psychosocial outcomes from the large, representative longitudinal BNLA study. Our findings indicate sound adjustment for the majority of young refugees resettled in Australia. Further research should examine the nature of associations between variables identified in this study. Overall, treating mental health problems early remains a priority in resettlement. Initiatives to enhance parental capability, physical health, school achievement and participation could assist to improve settlement outcomes for young refugees.

Refugee Trauma: Culturally Responsive Counseling Interventions

This article presents the Multiphase Model of Psychotherapy, Counseling, Social Justice, and Human Rights as a culturally responsive intervention model for working with refugee trauma. The model specifically addresses unique challenges in working with refugees with trauma, taking into account premigration displacement and postmigration adjustment and adaptation brought about by the increased number of global refugees with high rates of posttraumatic stress and psychopathology due to war and conflict.

“Back Home, People Say America is Heaven”: Pre-Migration Expectations and Post-Migration Adjustment for Liberians in Pittsburgh

The African-born population in the United States is now the immigrant group growing at the fastest rate, yet African immigrants are often overlooked in studies of immigrant incorporation and social adjustment. One factor negatively impacting immigrant adjustment is a lack of congruence between pre-migration expectations and post-migration realities. Existing academic literature on this topic largely overlooks African immigrants with the exception of refugees, and current studies of Liberians in the United States also focus overwhelmingly on refugees. This article reorients the discussion of African immigrant incorporation by exploring such issues with a sample of Liberian immigrants in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area who arrived with a range of visa types. Using the results of five focus groups (N = 31), I outline shared unrealistic expectations of abundant wealth and development, an easier life, and Americans having extensive knowledge about Africa. I also examine often unanticipated challenges such as communication issues, negative interactions (including racism and African origin prejudice), cultural differences, problems finding jobs and adjusting to American work culture, and high expectations from home, including remittances. The results suggest that non-refugee immigrants face many of the same challenges as refugees and can benefit from information and resources fostering more successful integration.

Post-migration Experiences of Female Immigrant Spouses from the Former Soviet Union

ABSTRACTThis paper applied an intersectional approach to analyse self-representations of female marriage migrants from the former Soviet Union who married US nationals. On the basis of in-depth interviews with these individuals and their husbands, the present study explored a range of topics related, but not limited, to pre-migration history, partner choice, post-migration adjustment. Failures of romantic relationships with local partners were cited by both men and women as the primary reason to turn to transnational marriage market to seek out brides and grooms, respectively. US men were looking for traditional wives and expected their spouses to assume the roles of housekeepers. In contrast, the majority of migrant women pursued more egalitarian gender relationships in the family. A conflict of expected gender roles and the household division of labour has strained many relationships.

Immigrant's emotional reactions to filial responsibilities and related psychological outcomes

Many young family members adopt parental roles to assist their parents to cope with immigration-related difficulties and challenges. This phenomenon is known as post-migration filial responsibility. In this study we retrospectively examined the relationships between emotional reactions of immigrant children to filial responsibilities in their families of origin and their following psychological adjustment. Based on previous qualitative findings, the Emotional Reaction to Filial Responsibility scale (ERFR) was developed. A sample of 220 young adults (age 20–35), who immigrated to Israel from the former Soviet Union at age of 6–15, completed questionnaires evaluating filial responsibilities and emotional reactions to them retrospectively, as well as indications for present psychological adjustment (the Brief Symptom Inventory and the General Self-Efficacy Scale). The filial responsibility domains differentially predicted two reactions: cultural brokering predicted Distress scale, whereas emotional support to parents predicted Pride scale. The self-reliance domain was positively associated with Distress scale, but negatively with Pride scale. Hierarchical regressions indicated that these emotional reactions predict different aspects of adjustment: Pride scale predicted self-efficacy, whereas Distress scale predicted psychological symptoms. The emotional reactions demonstrated unique predictive ability above and beyond that of the filial responsibility domains. Thus, these reactions are better predictors of post-migration adjustment difficulties than the behaviors per se. Social services and clinicians should address the emotional reactions to filial responsibilities when working with immigrant children.

TURNING POINTS AND TRANSITIONS: THE ROLE OF FAMILY IN WOMEN’S IMMIGRATION EXPERIENCES

Given the significant number of immigrants in the United States, especially immigrant families with young children, there is a need to better understand the experiences of immigrant women, and especially immigrant mothers. In particular, the factors impacting women’s decisions to migrate, migration journeys, and post-migration adjustment should be examined. Framed in family life course theory and using ethnographic, in-depth interviews, we explored these three immigration phases for 40 first-generation Latina and African immigrant women who experienced motherhood in the U.S. Results of the study expand the literature focused on immigration experiences by considering turning points and transitions in women’s migration processes, as they are shaped by both micro- (family) and macro- (socio-historical) level factors. The findings illustrate the spontaneous nature of some decisions to migrate, as well as how immigration journeys are influenced by the financial and physical supports of families and the status of their documentation. In addition, study findings point to motherhood as an important turning point for first-generation immigrant women in their adjustment to life in the U.S., and particularly in their planning with respect to staying long term. Implications for programs, policy, and future research are discussed.

A public health approach for Asian people with problem gambling in foreign countries

There has been a rapid increase in Asian immigration to English-speaking countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the United States. Anecdotal accounts and research suggest high levels of participation in gambling by people from Asian countries. Asian problem gambling is seen as being a social rather than an individual problem compounded by difficulties with post-migration adjustment. Contemporary public health perspectives are not limited to the biological and behavioural dimensions, but can also address socioeconomic determinants such as income, employment, poverty, and access to social and healthcare services related to gambling and health. This paper discusses how a public health viewpoint can lead to effective strategies against problem gambling. The five principles proposed in this paper are: (1) acknowledging similarities and differences within Asian populations, (2) ensuring that strategies are evidence-based, (3) treating Asian problem gambling in an acculturation framework, (4) addressing the issue of shame associated with problem gambling among Asian people, and (5) targeting at-risk sub-groups.

Etiology of limited transmission diseases among drug users: does recent migration magnify the risk of sharing injection equipment?

Epidemiological studies have attributed area-specific changes in infectious disease prevalence to human migration. There is a paucity of research investigating the postmigration adjustment period as an effect on risk behaviors that are required in limited transmission diseases. A two-group typology, derived by cluster analysis, allowed for an analytical differentiation in the postmigration period. The cluster variable and other possible cofactors were included in linear and logistic regression modeling of sharing drug injection equipment among drug users in Alaska. The results indicate that among participants who have injected drugs, those in the postmigration adjustment period are nearly six times more likely to share injection equipment than those drug users who are not in a postmigration period. Further research is suggested and limitations are discussed.