Those Easily Forgotten: The Impact of Emigration on Those Left Behind

Much has been written about the experiences and stresses of those who emigrate. By contrast, little attention has been paid to the experiences of those who stay behind—family members and friends who for various reasons do not to join their loved ones in the destination country. In this article, I describe the experiences of some South Africans whose families and friends have emigrated. This study forms part of a larger research project focusing on the impact of emigration on South African family life. Twenty‐one participants were interviewed by means of a semistructured interview at least 6 months after one or more family member(s) and/or friend(s) left South Africa, to explore participants’ experiences around their loved ones’ emigration. A thematic analysis of the data reveals that those left behind experience various emotions, ranging from emotional ambivalence to anger and distress. Emigration is mostly experienced as a vast loss, almost akin to a “death,” bringing about significant changes in social networks and relationships. The therapeutic significance of the findings for those working with emigrant families is also explored.     

Analysis of Migration,Regional Characteristics,and Socioeconomic Outcomes in Developing Economies: Empirical Evidence from Nigeria

Highly skilled migrants from Nigeria and other developing countries are becoming more attractive resources for industrial countries, as these countries experience demographic shifts characterized by skilled labor force shortages in certain sectors of their economies. Although there are a number of regional characteristics that may affect migration outcomes, in this paper, we also include individual-level factors in our analyses, such as education and age. Again, this paper also examines the issue of the North-South divide in poverty and other characteristics and how these affect migration. Furthermore, this paper also identifies which regional economic factors influence the individual’s migration decision, taking into account personal characteristics. For empirical analysis, we used data from the Nigerian Migration Survey by the World Bank. The micro data allow us to identify household factors that influence migration decisions. In doing this, we control for different individual propensities to migrate and also assess the genuine impact of regional economic factors on migration. The results show that individual, regional, and country-specific factors make significant impact on migration decisions and dynamics. The paper concludes that socioeconomic variables and personal characteristics are crucial for explaining the pattern of regional migration flows in Nigeria. Thus, migration policies have to be adopted that will emphasize the mutual links between migration and development across the different regions.     

Escape through Poland: Soviet Jewish Emigration in the 1950s

The emigration movement among Soviet Jews is usually dated to the 1960s–1990s. This essay focuses on the premovement emigration in the 1950s, which prepared the ground for the massive departure of Jews and non-Jewish members of their families, primarily to Israel and the United States. The parameters for leaving the Soviet Union in the 1950s were in many ways similar to the parameters for returning to Poland in the immediate post–World War II years. On paper, the basic pools of emigrants were the same: Jews who at the outbreak of World War II were Polish nationals. In reality, many repatriates of the 1950s were more Soviet than Polish, leaving the country where they had lived for up to twenty years, which often was a lion’s share of their lives. Those—that is, the majority—who ultimately reached Israel went through two repatriation processes: first, as returnees to their pre–World War II homeland and, second, as Jews going back to their historical homeland. As this essay shows, the contemporaneous political and social climates in the Soviet Union and Poland, the nature of those countries’ mutual relations and of their relations with Israel, not present on the map until 1948, framed a unique context for emigration in the early post-Stalinist period.     

South African International Migration and its Impact on Older Family Members

In this article, we explore the impact of South African families’ emigration on parents/grandparents who must renegotiate their lives in their loved ones’ physical absence. We adopted a transnational perspective in a bigger qualitative project to consider both sides of the migratory spectrum. Here we focus on elderly family members who remain behind—a group largely neglected in prior research. Our findings illustrate the complex emotions and relational changes experienced by elderly people whose families emigrate. New technologies bridge distances, allowing new ways to connect and take care of each other, and of re-imagining transnational relationships and what constitutes family life, but these bridges cannot negate the loss experienced by those remaining. People have to make sense of the emigration and forge new relational bonds with remaining family members. Our findings stress grandparents’ meaningful role in a family system and highlight some gendered and racial differences in families’ experiences.     

Organizational Culture and Similarity Among Team Members' Salience of Multiple Diversity Characteristics

Research often has focused on the presence of individuals' demographic differences, rather than the perception of such differences. We examined how organizational culture relates to similarity among individuals' salience of their team members' diversity characteristics. Moreover, we introduced a new approach to studying multiple diversity characteristics simultaneously. Team members who perceive their organizational culture as emphasizing respect for people were found to be unlikely to hold convergent views of their team members' demographics. Also, high-performing team members were found to view the salience of demographic characteristics similarly to other team members. Our findings suggest that an organizational culture emphasizing respect for people may be associated with unexpected barriers among team members that pose a threat to effective team functioning.     

Psychosocial Predictors of Intent to Emigrate Among Portuguese Adolescents

Information about the intent to emigrate was collected for a sample of 960 adolescents living in the northern region of Portugal. This question was part of a detailed questionnaire designed to assess specific issues concerning social representations of migration-namely, information, attitude, and fields of representation. Using information about the sociodemographic characteristics and the components of social representation mentioned above, our aim was to identify the independent predictors underlying the adolescent's intent to emigrate. Due to the great number of factors involved in the analysis, we conducted a preliminary selection of independent predictors within each of the aforementioned components and created a global index describing their importance. The findings indicate that, among all components of a social representation, attitude and representation of detachment and adaptation are the most important predictors of intent to emigrate. The relatively poor ability of sociodemographic variables to predict a future emigration does not mean that they are not important, but rather that they are more likely to condition attitude, the strongest predictor of a future emigration in the northern region of Portugal. The implication of these findings for handling intervening migration policies is discussed.     

“If You Uproot a Tree You Leave a Big Hole Behind”: Systemic Interconnectedness in Emigration and Family Life

In this article, a systemic perspective compares emigration to a process of uprooting, because everyone is rooted in a particular social and cultural context. The act of emigration leaves behind an ecological gap or hole, requiring a process of re-defining, re-growth and re-distribution. This ecological analogy for the social world emphasizes that various systems are rooted in reciprocal relationships. I illustrate that emigration is never an isolated individual event, but rather a systemic phenomenon which affects several systems. This qualitative study explores the impact of emigration on South African emigrants’ family life and social networks. It clearly shows the systemic interconnectedness of the emigration process, providing a useful theoretical frame for those working in the field of emigration and family life. The results highlight the reciprocal, often conflicting, experiences of those who emigrate and of those who stay behind, underscoring the strong sense of ambivalence and loss that characterizes emigration. Ways in which family members attempt to re-negotiate relationships postemigration are also described, drawing attention to occasional ambivalence regarding the use of technology as a way of maintaining transnational relationships.     

Emigration and community

In this paper I consider Gillian Brock’s and Michael Blake’s discussion of emigration in Debating Brain Drain in relation to the particular case of South Africa, and explore whether skilled white people have a duty to remain in the country. Focusing on the role of community in this debate, I argue that communities and allegiances in South Africa are still too divided and antagonistic for them to play the duty-grounding role that Brock requires.     

How Does Migration Affect Mothers’ and Fathers’ Roles Within their Families? Reflections on some Recent Research

Collectively, the articles in this special issue reveal that immigration has diverse effects on individual family members that vary depending on their gender and age. Such findings underscore the need for intensive analysis and comparison on a number of levels—fathers versus mothers, sons versus daughters, parents versus children. This commentary highlights some of the findings that emphasise the centrality of gender in colouring the experience of immigration for different family members. Limitations of the findings are noted and suggestions are made for future research examining the effects of migration on families and family members.     

自我同情和睡眠质量的关系：积极和消极情绪与自我控制的中介作用

为探究积极和消极情绪与自我控制在自我同情与睡眠质量间的中介机制,采用问卷法对477名成人进行调查,建立结构方程模型对中介效应进行检验。结果发现：（1）自我同情、积极情绪、自我控制和睡眠质量两两之间均为显著正相关,而上述变量与消极情绪均为显著负相关;（2）自我同情可分别以积极情绪、消极情绪和自我控制为中介来预测睡眠质量;还可依靠消极情绪与自我控制的链式中介效应来间接预测睡眠质量,但自我同情对睡眠质量的直接效应不显著。该研究结果为改善睡眠质量提供了新的干预视角。     

Justice in migration

The movement of people across borders is one of the most pressing issues of our time. Yet it is still unclear how migration should be regulated to be fair to the sending societies, the host societies and the individual migrant. What is at issue? Are we discussing migration from an ethical or from a political philosophical perspective, or both? Are we discussing migration from a global justice perspective or social justice perspective? Do we consider political legitimacy and democratic self-determination as part of our analysis? How should we balance demands of justice in immigration compared to those of emigration?     

Demographic, clinical, and personality variables associated with male prostitution by choice.

This research compared demographic, clinical and personality variables in a sample of 15 male prostitutes and 15 nonprostitutes from the same cohort. Unlike previous samples of male prostitutes, these young men specifically reported that they were involved by choice, primarily to earn extra money. Significant findings included heavier drug and alcohol use, more limited vocational success and aspirations, and greater alcohol use among family members of male prostitutes. Male prostitutes were also more likely to identify themselves as drug or alcohol addicted. No significant differences were found in personality characteristics between the two groups, although there was limited support for the hypothesis that male prostitutes are more antisocial.     

Preliminary Evidence of Differences Between Stigma Source Versus Type With Individual Functioning Variables in National Guard/Reserve Troops

Extant military studies show that stigma has a variable association with seeking mental health treatment and mental health distress. Previous studies used a general measure of stigma that does not differentiate between stigma source or type. Stigma source can be either self-perceived or perceived from others, and stigma type can include stigma for disorder or stigma for help-seeking. Civilian literature demonstrates that self-stigma is more detrimental to individual functioning than stigma perceived from others, and prior studies in National Guard service members (NGSMs) show that self-stigma and stigma perceived from unit leaders were associated with lower help-seeking intentions relative to stigma perceived from unit members or family members. No military study has simultaneously explored the associations of demographic and distress variables with various stigma types and sources. To determine if prior mixed findings were due to the use of a general measure of stigma, NGSMs (n = 163) completed demographic and distress measures, as well as stigma source (e.g., self, leader) and type (i.e., general, disorder, help-seeking) assessments. General stigma was positively associated with all stigma types and sources as well as a college education. Disorder stigma was positively associated with stigma from nonmilitary sources, and self-stigma for help-seeking was negatively associated with help-seeking intentions. Likelihood of deploying again was positively associated with disorder and help-seeking stigma when perceived from someone in authority. Given the unique associations observed, future studies should utilize specific measures of stigma when examining factors related to postdeployment functioning.     

Happiness and International Migration

In this paper, we consider the extent to which the aggregate happiness of a country affects the flow of people across its borders. We merge data from the World Values Survey, which produces happiness indices for 84 countries between 1981 and 2004, with three different migration datasets: emigration rates from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, immigration rates from the U.S. Census, and net migration rates from the United Nations. We find that happiness has a U-shaped relationship with emigration rates: emigration rates fall in happiness for relatively unhappy countries, but rise for relatively happy countries. The U-shaped relationship also holds for migrant flows into the U.S. When analyzing net migration rates, we find that the reverse relationship exists. Net migration is associated with an increase in happiness for relatively unhappy countries, but after a threshold level of happiness, net migration is associated with a decrease in happiness. Our findings are robust to various empirical specifications and datasets.     

Predictors of Morale in U.S. Peacekeepers1

In this prospective study, we examined pre‐ and postmission predictors of morale in U.S. military peacekeepers deployed to Kosovo. After controlling for demographic and military characteristics, current general life stressors, unit cohesion, and reports of patriotism and nationalism were predictive of predeployment morale. We also found that positive military experiences, general overseas military stressors, and postdeployment unit cohesion were significant predictors of postdeployment morale after controlling for demographic and military characteristics and predeployment morale, cohesion, and patriotism/nationalism. The results suggest the need to broaden our understanding of the factors that may assist and motivate soldiers during demanding peacekeeping operations and the factors that may mitigate the impact of stressful demands and associated mission‐related strain.     

Why Do Bowling and Singing Matter? Group Characteristics,Membership, and Generalized Trust

Although membership in voluntary associations has been presumed to be a central element in the building of social capital, micro-level knowledge about whether and how voluntary associations make their members more trusting and cooperative has been lacking. The link between trust and involvement in associations in Germany and Sweden was explored by means of a questionnaire concerning traits of individuals and of the associational groups to which they belong. The analysis of the resulting data set considered the extent to which various group characteristics (such as demographic diversity, in-group trust, and engagement level) are related to the generalized trust of the members. The results indicate that more diverse, more engaged voluntary associations, and those with weak ties, indeed accommodate more trusting people. In particular, time spent in groups with foreigners, or in groups with weaker ties, affectsthe generalized trust levels of the members.     

The Impact of Social and Political Changes on Survivors of Political Persecutions in Rural Russia and Ukraine

Differences in depressive symptoms and attitudes about political and social changes were examined for individuals with and without family histories of Stalinist persecution in several small villages in Russia and Ukraine. In a sample of 422 villagers, there were 37 family members of survivors of Stalinist purges. In comparison to villagers with no family history of persecution, those who had such history perceived their social life with other villagers and their life in general to be much improved in the late 1990s. They also reported much lower levels of depression than those without a history of persecution. Differences that were discovered could not be accounted for by demographic characteristics of the respondents. The results suggest that individuals with a history of family trauma related to political persecution may perceive their environment as more positive as a result of political changes and may cope with political transitions differently than persons who have no history of family persecution.     

The Significance of Military Contexts and Culture for Understanding Family Well-Being: Parent Life Satisfaction and Adolescent Outcomes

Formal systems and informal networks are presumed to be significant contexts that affect military families. Their effects on both parents and adolescents in active duty military families are examined (N = 236 families). Social organization and contextual model of family stress theories are employed as frameworks for the analyses of how dimensions of military culture influence parents’ life satisfaction, as well as key developmental outcomes of their adolescents (for example, mental health). Key findings from our analyses included a positive relationship between parents support from military leaders and fellow soldiers and parental well-being findings revealed the importance of civilian parents’ satisfaction with military life on adolescent outcomes for families that have experienced stressful military contexts. These findings provide support for the significance of multiple contexts for understanding resilience among military members and their families.     

Defying conventional wisdom: A meta-analytical examination of the differences between demographic and job-related diversity relationships with performance

Conventional wisdom in the diversity literature holds that job-related dimensions of diversity are the domain of positive performance, whereas demographic dimensions of diversity are the domain of negative performance effects. In a meta-analysis (N = 146 studies, 612 effect sizes), we show that this conclusion may be based on rater biases; it does not apply to studies involving more objective assessments of performance, assessments that cannot be influenced by knowledge of a team’s composition. We also show that the influence of job-related diversity is moderated by task complexity and that job-related diversity is more positively related to innovative performance than to in-role performance. We discuss how these results invite a reconsideration of the role of the job-related/demographic diversity distinction and provide suggestions on how to further advance our understanding of diversity’s effects.