Journal of Prevention and Intervention in the Community
Volume 45, Issue 1, 2017, Pages 32-43

Effects of the community engagement of migrants on their well-being: The case of Moroccan leaders in southern Spain (Article)

Taurini E.* , Paloma V. , García-Ramírez M. , Marzana D. , Marta E.
  • a Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
  • b Department of Social Psychology, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
  • c Department of Social Psychology, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
  • d Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
  • e Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy

Abstract

Community engagement of migrants has been identified as an important element in developing both individual well-being and cohesive multicultural receiving communities. Through 10 in-depth interviews, this study explores the profile of Moroccan migrant leaders in community organizations in the receiving context (south of Spain) and the reasons for which they engage. Moreover, it analyzes the relationship established between community engagement and their well-being. The results show that migrants commit for both intrinsic (e.g., support their compatriots) and extrinsic (e.g., increase their social connection) reasons. Their social action has a positive influence on their well-being because it activates the following paths: (1) improvement of bicultural competences; (2) development of social relationships with receiving members; (3) strengthening of social bonds with compatriots; (4) increase of abilities in dealing with unjust social conditions in the new environment; and (5) decrease of prejudice towards their own cultural group. © 2017 Taylor & Francis.

Author Keywords

Community engagement activism Migration Volunteering voluntary work Well-being

Index Keywords

Morocco human wellbeing community middle aged social interaction social bonding ethnology interview social status migrant Humans Interviews as Topic male Spain female leadership cultural factor adult migration Prejudice Cultural Characteristics Transients and Migrants social behavior
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85009455727&doi=10.1080%2f10852352.2016.1197737&partnerID=40&md5=e1119935f2deb465be57f564c6533ca8
DOI: 10.1080/10852352.2016.1197737
ISSN: 10852352
Cited by: 6
Original Language: English