Psychosocial Experiences of African Migrants in Six European Countries : A Mixed Method Study

This open access book provides an empirical account of the psychological and social experiences of 3500 African migrants to 6 European countries: Germany, Spain, Italy, The Netherlands, France, and the UK. It discusses the psychosocial motivations for migration from Africa, who migrates where, and stressful pre- and post-migration factors affecting the social and psychological wellbeing of migrants. The book also includes a detailed exploration of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among African migrants. Addressing and offering solutions to pre- and post-migration problems in Africa and Europe as well as the problems associated with the perilous journeys involved, this unique study is a must-read for anyone interested in cross-cultural psychology and social science, and particularly in migration and mental health." Preface 7 Contents 12 1 Setting the Scene 15 Introduction 15 The Plights Inherent in the Asylum Process and Obtaining Refugee Status 22 References 25 2 Patterns and Current Trends in African Migration to Europe 29 Introduction 29 African Migration Pattern: The Current Trends 31 Irregular Migration into Europe 35 Demographics of Irregular Migrants 37 Globalization and Migration 37 The Costs and Benefits of Migration 39 References 41 3 Travelling Routes to Europe 46 Introduction 46 Migration Routes to the EU 48 The Central Mediterranean Route 48 The Western Mediterranean Route 52 The Western African Route 53 The Eastern Mediterranean Route 54 The Western Balkan Route 55 Routes of Trans-Saharan Migration Towards the Mediterranean and the West African Route 56 Western and Central African Routes 56 Eastern African Routes 59 References 60 4 Theoretical Explanations of Migrations, Mental Health, Wellbeing and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder 63 Introduction 63 Why Is There a Sudden Burst to Migrate to Europe by Africans? 65 Acculturation Theory 70 Acculturation-Related Stress Theories 72 General Migration and Mental Health Theories 73 Attachment Theory 75 Trauma-Based Medical Model 77 Chronic Traumatic Stress (CTS) Model 77 Lazarus and Folkman’s Stress Model 79 Hobfoll’s Conservation of Resources Theory 80 Value Preferences in the Context of Migration 83 Coping Theory and Migrants’ Adaptation 85 Theorizing Mental Health 87 References 89 5 Viewpoints of Other Scientists on Migration, Mental Health and PTSD: Review of Relevant Literature 94 Introduction 94 Who Is at Risk for Developing PTSD? 95 Studies on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Immigrants/Refugees 95 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) of Immigrants/Refugees 106 Demographics, Migrants/Refugees, Migration and Trauma 116 Education 117 Religion 117 Discrimination and Language 118 Coping Mechanisms and Migrants’ Adaptation 118 A Multifaceted Picture 120 References 121 6 Social Experiences of Migrants 129 Introduction 130 Conditions in African Countries Push Migrants to Europe 130 The Journey Through the Desert 132 The Libyan Experience: Torture, Slavery and Abuse 134 The Sea Crossing to Europe 137 Now in Europe: What Next? 139 References 141 7 Gathering the Data 146 Introduction 147 The Convergent Parallel Mixed Methods Design 147 Socio-demographic Characteristics of Respondents 148 Contextual Settings 155 Instruments 170 Qualitative Study 177 References 179 8 Results: Quantitative Study 184 Introduction 184 Migrants’ Status, Pre- and Post-migration Stress Impact on Mental Health and PTSD Across All EU Countries 187 Germany 188 France 189 Italy 190 Spain 191 Netherlands 191 United Kingdom 192 Coping Styles Used by Migrants 194 Schwartz Values 198 References 201 9 Results: Qualitative Study 203 Introduction 203 Germany 204 France 210 Italy 214 Spain 217 Netherlands 223 United Kingdom (UK) 226 10 Discussions and Conclusions 230 Introduction 230 Pre-migration Stressors, Mental Health and PTSD 231 Post-migration Stressors, Status of Migrants, Mental Health and PTSD 232 Coping Among Migrants 234 Culture Shock? 235 Conclusions 236 References 237 11 Impact: Consequences and Recommendations 239 Introduction 239 References 241 Front Matter ....Pages i-xv Setting the Scene (Erhabor Idemudia, Klaus Boehnke)....Pages 1-14 Patterns and Current Trends in African Migration to Europe (Erhabor Idemudia, Klaus Boehnke)....Pages 15-31 Travelling Routes to Europe (Erhabor Idemudia, Klaus Boehnke)....Pages 33-49 Theoretical Explanations of Migrations, Mental Health, Wellbeing and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (Erhabor Idemudia, Klaus Boehnke)....Pages 51-81 Viewpoints of Other Scientists on Migration, Mental Health and PTSD: Review of Relevant Literature (Erhabor Idemudia, Klaus Boehnke)....Pages 83-117 Social Experiences of Migrants (Erhabor Idemudia, Klaus Boehnke)....Pages 119-135 Gathering the Data (Erhabor Idemudia, Klaus Boehnke)....Pages 137-174 Results: Quantitative Study (Erhabor Idemudia, Klaus Boehnke)....Pages 175-193 Results: Qualitative Study (Erhabor Idemudia, Klaus Boehnke)....Pages 195-221 Discussions and Conclusions (Erhabor Idemudia, Klaus Boehnke)....Pages 223-231 Impact: Consequences and Recommendations (Erhabor Idemudia, Klaus Boehnke)....Pages 233-237