Search Results (295)

Background: International migration is a growing global phenomenon involving diverse groups, such as labor migrants, international marriage migrants, refugees, and international students. International migrants face unique mental health challenges influenced by adversities such as social isolation and limited access to mental health services. This study employs bibliometric methods to systematically analyze the global body of literature on international migrants’ mental health. Methods: The literature on the mental health of international migrants published until October 2024 was searched using the Web of Science database. The search terms included (‘International migrants’ OR ‘migrant workers’ OR ‘international students’ OR ‘refugees’ OR ‘asylum seekers’ OR ‘smuggled migrants’) AND ‘mental health’. VOSviewer was used to conduct bibliometric analysis, focusing on co-authorship patterns, keyword co-occurrence, and citation networks. Results: Over the past four decades, research on the mental health of international migrants has grown substantially, with major migration destinations such as the United States, Europe, and Australia playing prominent roles in this field. ‘Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)’ was the most frequent keyword in publications, with strong links to ‘trauma’ and ‘depression’. In recent years, with the impact of global socioenvironmental changes and emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the research focus has gradually shifted towards social support, service accessibility, and cultural adaptation. Conclusions: International migration is a far-reaching global phenomenon, and addressing the mental health of migrant populations is essential for advancing public health, social cohesion, and sustainable development. This study provides the first bibliometric overview of research in this domain, mapping its thematic evolution and collaborative structure. The findings offer valuable insights into the field’s development and may support future interdisciplinary collaboration and the formulation of culturally informed, evidence-based approaches in migrant mental health. Full article

In the last two decades, the prevalence of South Asian migrant workers has significantly increased in the UAE’s construction sector, and they are under huge debt. Although researchers heavily stress the role of employers in migrant workers’ debt, the role of debt before departure has not been investigated. Thus, this study bridges this gap in the literature in the context of South Asian construction migrant workers. The objective of this study is to investigate how informal recruitment fees and debt arrangements contribute to bonded labor and dependency among migrant workers. A qualitative approach was used to conduct in-depth interviews with 30 South Asian migrants employed in the construction sector. This article highlights how pre-migration debt—which is often accrued through informal loans and exploitative recruitment fees—has been underexplored in migration studies. Drawing on interviews with 30 South Asian laborers, this study identifies five interconnected themes: pre-migration debt bondage, exploitative lending practices, lack of legal recourse, emotional manipulation, and a cycle of dependency. While UAE labor policies have improved, the real vulnerabilities lie in the informal recruitment systems and weak oversight in migrant workers’ countries of origin. Consequently, five themes were generated from the analysis: pre-migration debt bondage, exploitative lending practices, no legal recourse, emotional manipulation, and cycles of dependency. This study contributes to our existing knowledge by revealing the experiences of migrant construction workers from South Asia in the UAE. While the UAE has established one of the region’s most progressive legal frameworks to protect migrant workers and set clear labor standards, many exploitative practices occur outside its jurisdiction, particularly in the workers’ countries of origin. This study underscores that the root of the problem lies in weak enforcement and informal recruitment networks in sending countries, not in UAE policy itself. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated international action to ensure that migrant protection begins well before arrival. Full article

In West Africa, there is a very close link between the phenomenon of trafficking and migrant smuggling. This article will analyze the pressure elements and the causes that drive sub-Saharan people to migrate, placing themselves in the hands of criminal networks that end up exploiting them—women and minors sexually, and men through forced labor. The main corridors departing from West Africa and the characteristics of the criminal groups exercising criminal governance will also be addressed. This research has used both primary and secondary sources, as well as empirical fieldwork consisting of interviews with security force officials, international humanitarian aid organizations, and academic experts on migration issues related to trafficking and smuggling. Our research reveals that the origin of migration is multifactorial. The violence experienced in West Africa, but also the misgovernance, the lack of opportunities for a very young population with limited prospects, and the human insecurity affecting the entire region, are the main reasons that compel people to migrate. In these migration processes, the safety of migrants is compromised as they are forced to start their journey through clandestine means, which exposes them to trafficking networks and thus to violence and exploitation. It is along the migration routes where trafficking and migrant smuggling converge. Full article

This article discusses caste dynamics within the Punjabi diaspora in Italy—the largest in the EU—by focusing on the case of the Ravidassia community and describing its evolving relations with the local Sikh community. Previous research on Punjabi migration to Italy mainly focused on issues of labor exploitation, intermediation, and Sikh identity, often conflating the entire Punjabi population with its majoritarian—but far from exclusive—Sikh-Jatt component, thereby overlooking its internal heterogeneity of caste, religion, and class. Despite the growing number of Ravidassia-Chamar migrants in Italy—evidenced by the proliferation of Ravidassia temples and associations across the country—their migratory experiences, employment patterns, socioreligious practices, and inter-caste relationships remained unexplored. This article offers, for the first time, an overview of the history, geography, and identity politics of the Ravidassia in Italy. Drawing on data collected with Punjabi migrants during multi-sited ethnographic fieldwork, it illustrates the alternative strategies adopted by the Ravidassia to assert their identity in this diasporic context, focusing on cases in which their relations with the Sikh manifested their complex nature. It concludes by discussing the advantages and drawbacks of each strategy, in light of the history of power relations between the Ravidassia and the Sikh. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted higher education worldwide, imposing strict isolation measures, transitioning learning online, and exacerbating existing social and economic inequalities. This literature review examines the pandemic’s impact on the mental health of college students, with a focus on those belonging to minority groups, including racial, ethnic, migrant, gender, sexuality-based, and low-income populations. While elevated levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness were observed across all students, findings indicate that LGBTQ+ and low-income students faced the highest levels of psychological distress, due to compounded stressors such as family rejection, unsafe home environments, and financial insecurity. Racial and ethnic minority students reported increased experiences of discrimination and reduced access to culturally competent mental healthcare. International and migrant students were disproportionately affected by travel restrictions, legal uncertainties, and social disconnection. These disparities underscore the need for higher education institutions to implement targeted, inclusive mental health policies that account for the unique needs of at-risk student populations during health crises. Full article

The Sustainable Development Goals commit states to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for all; yet displaced populations—including asylum seekers, refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and undocumented migrants—remain systematically excluded from national health systems across southern and eastern Africa. This paper applies a whole-of-route, rights-based framework to examine how legal status, policy implementation, and structural governance shape healthcare access for displaced populations across South Africa, Kenya, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Drawing on 70 key informant interviews and policy analysis conducted between 2020 and 2025, the study finds that despite formal commitments to health equity, access remains constrained by restrictive legal regimes, administrative discretion, and fragmented service delivery models. Critical gaps persist in migration-sensitive planning, gender-responsive care, and mental health integration. The findings highlight the limitations of rights-based rhetoric in the absence of legal coherence, intersectoral coordination, and political will. To realise UHC in displacement contexts, health systems must move beyond citizen-centric models and embed migration-aware, inclusive, and sustainable approaches across all stages of displacement. Without such structural reforms, displaced populations will remain at the margins of national health agendas—and the promise of health for all will remain unmet. Full article

This study aimed to uncover how harm is normalised in migrant communities using rationalisations, power imbalances, and emotional distancing. This research counters the dominant discourse that migrant communities are cohesive, altruistic, and protective by critically analysing the psychological and moral mechanisms of intra-community harm. Migration scholarship has long extolled the contribution of migrant networks to settlement, employment, and integration. Using a qualitative ethnographic approach, data were gathered using participant observation and semi-structured interviews with twelve purposively sampled migrants. The aim of applying a primary qualitative study was to capture a detailed, first-hand understanding of participants’ lived experiences and social relations. It permitted the in-depth examination of how people rationalise and navigate intra-community harm in the actual contexts of their lives. Thematic analysis yielded four significant findings: one, injustices in the community are frequently met with silence and inaction due to fear and moral disengagement; two, assistance is extraordinarily situational and gendered, often falling disproportionately on women or being mediated by institutions; three, internal exploitation—like rent gouging and manipulation of aid—is justified through community narratives; and four, people increasingly feel isolation, emotional burnout, and only symbolic unity at communal events. The research suggests that, although migrant networks can offer critical resources, they are not invulnerable to internal hierarchies and moral collapses. To create effectively inclusive and nurturing settings, future interventions must account for more than mere structural barriers, intra-group processes, and psychological rationalisations allowing intra-community injury. Full article

As China’s regional development enters a critical stage of population redistribution and urban transformation, the impact of population mobility on regional demographic structures and urban functional restructuring has become increasingly prominent. Against this backdrop of accelerating Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei integration, cities of varying types have been confronted with growing complexity in demographic transitions and socioeconomic stratification during their processes of absorbing or exporting populations. This study employed microdata from the National Bureau of Statistics to construct migration flow matrices and utilized a decomposition quantification approach to explore the impact of internal migration on the population structure and quality in 13 cities within the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region. The findings indicated that, while Beijing has achieved some success in population control, it overall exhibits a “large inflow and large outflow” pattern. Langfang has attracted a large number of highly educated individuals and male migrants under the spillover effect from Beijing. Shijiazhuang’s population attractiveness has increased, yet the outflow of highly educated individuals remains unmitigated. Meanwhile, the internal migrant structures in industrial cities such as Tianjin and Tangshan have undergone significant changes following the industrial transformation. Cities in the passive outflow area and agricultural transformation area have experienced siphoning effects, but they face different potential risks due to their unique characteristics. This study further enriches the understanding of the impact mechanisms underlying domestic population mobility and provides differentiated policy references for cities to reconcile their development objectives with demographic realities. Full article

There is scant literature on migrants with an entrepreneurial background and who return to their country of origin. Using a transnational theoretical approach, we seek to contribute to research in this field by analysing the return strategies and expectations of Colombian migrant entrepreneurs participating in the Programme Migration and Diaspora (PMD). This programme is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (German Society for International Cooperation, Eschborn, Germany) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ, Berlin, Germany). To this end, a mixed-methods study was conducted. Likert scale questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were applied to twenty-seven entrepreneurs participating in the programme, analysing quantitative and qualitative variables. Migrants seek to contribute to Colombia’s development through entrepreneurship, looking for various commercial connections for which security and planning conditions are necessary. They see entrepreneurship as sustenance, which in most cases results in transnational links between Germany and Colombia. For that to happen, contacts and acquired experiences are fundamental, as well as tangible and intangible resources, amongst which the information and support for entrepreneurship granted by GIZ stand out. Generally, it is essential to continue strengthening differentiated and comprehensive support strategies for all types of migrant entrepreneurs in destination countries. Full article

As global migration continues to expand, the diversity of migrant populations increases. This includes a growing number of highly educated individuals from lower-income countries who face significant economic and mental health challenges in attempting to integrate into new communities. Despite extensive education and experience, their expertise is often unrecognized, with many resorting to unskilled labor alternatives. While substantial research exists on the immigration experiences of physicians and nurses, little is known about other professionals, such as dentists. This case study seeks to gain an in-depth understanding of the post-migration experiences of Iranian-trained dentists in Canada, identifying barriers and facilitators to their successful integration. Using a qualitative approach, this study is based on eleven interviews with dentists trained in Iran who recently immigrated to Canada. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via Zoom in English. A thematic analysis was performed using the 2021 Dedoose software program. Barriers to successful integration were categorized into two main themes: “socio-cultural” and “institutional” impediments. The findings show that participants faced significant challenges integrating into Canadian society. Beyond the many socio-cultural obstacles, the negative economic and mental health impacts of attempting to navigate the credential recognition system were substantial, largely due to what appears to be a systematic and institutionalized bias against foreign-trained individuals built into the credentialing system. As a result, their skills often remain underutilized, benefiting neither themselves nor their new country. Findings will inform policy and practice and propose practical recommendations that include reducing institutional barriers for credential assessment, providing mental health support, and offering financial support during assessment of international education. Full article

Climate-induced migration has emerged as a major concern in India and Bangladesh, due to their geographical vulnerability and socioeconomic conditions. Coastal areas, such as the Sundarbans and the Ganges–Brahmaputra Delta, face relentless threats due to rising sea levels, cyclones, and floods. These factors force millions to relocate, resulting in rural–urban transitions and cross-border movements that worsen urban challenges and socioeconomic vulnerabilities. For this, a systematic literature review of the Scopus database was undertaken using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A detailed review analysis of 65 papers was carried out. The study highlighted key climatic and non-climatic drivers of migration, including natural disasters, resource depletion, poverty, and poor governance. Despite existing adaptation strategies, such as early warning systems, micro-insurance, and climate-resilient practices, gaps remain in addressing long-term resilience and legal recognition for climate migrants. The research emphasizes the need for a holistic, multi-stakeholder approach, integrating adaptive infrastructure, sustainable livelihoods, and international cooperation. Recommendations include bridging research gaps, increasing community participation, and implementing global frameworks, like the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage. Addressing climate migration through fair, inclusive measures is essential for building resilience and ensuring long-term development in the region. Full article

This study examines the intentions of foreign workers living in Okayama, Japan, to stay long-term in Japan. Utilizing a Bayesian multinomial logistic regression model, this research provides a novel analytical approach that captures parameter uncertainty and accommodates the categorical nature of migrants’ settlement intentions using primary data collected via a questionnaire survey from January to March 2024. The findings reveal that residence status, previous experience of living in Japan, and graduation from a Japanese education institution significantly influence long-term settlement intentions. In addition, respondents aged 26–35 intend to stay longer than those of other ages, and those from less developed countries, such as Myanmar and Vietnam, intend to stay longer than those from China. Conversely, highly educated migrants express lower settlement intentions, suggesting a potential loss of skilled foreign labor in Japan. Notably, migrants in the Technical Intern Training Program are more likely to stay longer than those with other residence statuses, such as Highly Skilled Professional. In contrast, workers with higher education levels tend to have less intention to stay long-term, indicating a high probability of Japan losing educated foreign labor in the future. These findings contribute to understanding the dynamics of migrant workers in Japan, which is crucial for creating policies for foreign workers that can attract and support long-term settlement. These findings have important implications for policy, particularly in enhancing community integration, reducing workplace discrimination, and designing residence pathways that support long-term retention. Full article

This comparative study examines how geographic isolation and out-migrant motivations shape support systems in two aging, depopulated rural areas of Japan: Shimogo Town and Nanmoku Village. Challenging the prevailing policies’ focus on internal migration as the primary solution for regional revitalization, we highlight the “relationship population”—a specific group of out-migrated family members who maintain ties to their hometowns—and their diverse contributions to rural sustainability. We employed a mixed-methods approach, including quantitative analyses of aging-oriented household survey questionnaires (using multiple correspondence analysis, multinomial logistic regression, k-means, and two-step cluster analysis) and qualitative analyses of interviews with local government officials and residents (case studies in Nanmoku). Our analysis reveals contrasting support patterns: Shimogo exhibits a localized system driven by resident needs, while Nanmoku employs a strategic approach balancing practical support and community engagement. These findings underscore the limitations of one-size-fits-all migration policies and indicate the need for strategies tailored to the local characteristics of each community. By recognizing the diverse motivations behind hometown visits and the contributions to both residents and communities from the “relationship population”, this research advocates shifting the focus from promoting migration to the interplay of family ties, local support systems, and the agency of residents and out-migrated families. This perspective offers actionable insights for policymakers, local leaders, and researchers working on rural revitalization. Full article

The construction industry, a major global employer, increasingly relies on migrant construction workers (MCWs) to mitigate labor shortages and enhance cost efficiency. Despite their vital role, MCWs face numerous challenges, including exploitation during recruitment, safety risks, health issues, and difficulties with social integration. Current research into MCWs is dispersed across various disciplines—such as occupational safety, health, and social issues—and lacks a cohesive review of achievements and gaps. To address this, the present study employs bibliometric and qualitative content analysis to evaluate research progress, domains, hotspots, and trends from 2004 to 2024. The dataset, sourced from the Web of Science (WoS), includes 112 publications. The analysis reveals a steady growth in MCWs research, divided into two distinct phases, with significant contributions from 307 authors across 30 countries. The study also examines robust international collaboration and the prominent role of influential research institutions. The research identified ten key areas of focus and engaged in discussion. This comprehensive overview of MCWs research provides valuable insights for future studies and policy development, aiming to enhance conditions for MCWs and inform effective intervention strategies for this vulnerable workforce. Full article

Chinese cities have made significant progress in fostering low-carbon societies and piloting a variety of low-carbon measures. Nonetheless, the effective implementation of these initiatives and the long-term upkeep of related amenities rely heavily on resident support. The existing studies provide limited insight into how local residents perceive and endorse different types of low-carbon measures, which often involve varying trade-offs. Addressing this gap, the present study surveyed the willingness to pay (WTP) of residents in Hangzhou—an early adopter of low-carbon practices in China—across five representative low-carbon measures. Survey data were collected from 13 distinct residential neighborhoods. The results indicate that Hangzhou residents are more inclined to financially support measures offering direct personal benefits compared to those benefiting the collective good, with this tendency being notably pronounced among highly educated individuals. Further findings include the following: (1) respondents aware of ongoing low-carbon measures were more willing to pay for them; (2) male respondents, recent migrants (within the past five years), high-income groups, and residents in aging communities tended to contribute higher amounts; (3) providing detailed information on carbon mitigation effects markedly increased both the likelihood and the magnitude of WTP; (4) the promotion of new energy vehicles (NEVs) remains contentious, particularly between NEV owners and gasoline vehicle owners. These findings highlight the need for targeted policies and educational programs to strengthen public awareness and support for low-carbon interventions, thereby advancing sustainability in fast-growing urban centers like Hangzhou. Overall, these findings provide key insights for the formulation of low-carbon city policies and sustainable urban planning, emphasizing the global importance of local socioeconomic dynamics and offering a valuable reference for cities worldwide seeking to advance sustainability transitions and meet international climate targets. Full article