Internal Migration and Mental Health - Relevant Factors 20 and 30 years after Unification: Results of a Longitudinal Study in German

Zusammenfassung FragestellungWelche Faktoren spielen fur die psychische Gesundheit von Binnenmigrierten im Vergleich zu Nichtmigrierten eine Rolle?MethodeDaten der Sachsischen Langsschnittstudie aus den Jahren 2010 und 2020 wurden benutzt, um mithilfe von Bootstrapping-basierten Mediationsanalysen Binnenmigrierte mit Nichtmigrierten in ihrem Grad der psychischen Belastung zu vergleichen.ErgebnisseBinnenmigrierte berichteten 2010, aber nicht 2020, weniger psychische Belastung. Dieser Effekt verschwand, nachdem Kovariaten und Mediatoren inkludiert wurden. Wichtige Mediatoren waren Lebenssituation, enge politische Verbundenheit mit der BRD, Gewinner der deutschen Einheit, Sicherheit am Arbeitsplatz (2010) und Bedrohung durch Altersarmut und Erfahrungen mit dem System (2020).FazitBinnenmigration wirkt durch verschiedene Faktoren auf die psychische Gesundheit. Insbesondere die aktuellen Lebensumstande spielen dabei eine entscheidende Rolle. Abstract AimThe aim of the present study was to determine the relevant factors in the mental health of people who experienced internal migration in comparison with people who did not. MethodsData from a longitudinal study in Saxony were used to compare the psychological distress of individuals who migrated internally with that of those who did not in 2010 and 2020. Bootstrapping-based mediation analysis was applied to examine possible mediators between internal migration and mental health.ResultsIndividuals who experienced internal migration reported less mental distress compared to those who did not in 2010, but not in 2020, but these effects disappeared after including covariates and mediators. Important mediators in 2010 were life situation, political solidarity with FRG, winner of German Unification and job security; in 2020, these were threat of old-age poverty and experiences with system.DiscussionInternal migration influences mental distress through different factors. Especially the current life circumstances play a crucial role.

Automated summary

Utilizing data from a longitudinal study in Saxony, the study compared the psychological distress between internal migrants and non-migrants through bootstrapping-based mediation analysis. The results showed that internal migrants reported less mental distress in 2010, but not in 2020, and various factors such as life situations, political solidarity, job security, and threats of old-age poverty played crucial roles in influencing the mental health of internal migrants.