Migration and Migration Status : Key Determinants of Health and Well-Being

Abstract

The experience of migration and immigration are key determinants of health and overall well-being. Social inequities and contexts of poverty and violence all significantly impact migrants’ health and well-being. Furthermore, migrants are vulnerable to isolation, exclusion, discrimination, xenophobia, and insecurity, all of which exacerbate their health challenges. Migrants in irregular or undocumented situations are especially at risk of exploitation, trafficking, detention, and deportation. These social determinants of health have an adverse effect on migrant health. This Reprint provides empirical evidence, contextual insights, and critical analyses that explore the links between migration, migration status, and health and well-being. By adopting an interdisciplinary, international, and multi-method approach, the issue features contributions from scholars based in the United States, Mexico, Chile, Australia, France, Spain, and China. These scholars represent diverse fields including sociology, psychology, anthropology, geography, political science, international relations, medicine, public health, social work, and Latino and Latin American Studies. Through these varied perspectives, this Reprint provides evidence about how social and immigration policies have a direct effect on health and life expectancy.