Sense of belonging and sense of coherence as factors promoting life satisfaction among migrants. An empirical study in the Italian context
Matthew Olusola Akinyemi, Giuseppe Crea, Salvatore Grammatico
Migration exposes individuals to multiple sources of stress, which can have negative effects on psychological well-being and life satisfaction. We examine the role of the sense of coherence and the sense of belonging as protective factors among migrants in Italy. The hypothesis is that both variables are positively associated with life satisfaction and that the sense of belonging also exerts an indirect effect, mediated by the sense of coherence.
The study conducted is cross-sectional. Data were collected between February and September 2024 in various Italian cities, involving a total of 233 individuals aged between 20 to 65. All data used in the study were collected via self-report questionnaires, which were administered to participants with the necessary support to ensure they fully understood the questions and how to answer them.
The results confirm that a sense of coherence is a significant and proximal predictor of life satisfaction, highlighting how the ability to understand, manage, and make sense of events promotes subjective well-being. Furthermore, a sense of belonging is positively associated with life satisfaction, emerging as a relevant distal factor for integration into the host country. Mediation analysis showed that a sense of belonging contributes to life satisfaction indirectly, by enhancing the sense of coherence. Among the sociodemographic variables considered, age and educational level were positively associated with well-being, while gender and length of stay in the host country did not show significant effects.
This study underscores the importance of promoting psychosocial interventions aimed at strengthening both a sense of belonging and a sense of coherence among migrants, in order to improve their well-being and foster inclusion. Future longitudinal research is needed to further explore the relationships among the variables examined.
Keywords
Migrants, sense of belonging, sense of coherence, life satisfaction.