Determinants of life satisfaction among migrants in South Africa

What is it about?

Background Migrant populations in any country are a vulnerable group, and psycho-demographic research measuring life satisfaction has been used to assess migrants’ well-being in developed and developing countries. However, South Africa, with its high influx of migrant populations, has investigated these topical concerns from the perspective of xenophobia, with mixed findings. However, no, or very few studies have examined life satisfaction among migrants in South Africa. This study, therefore, extends previous literature by examining the determinants of life satisfaction among South Africa’s internal and international migrant populations. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study from the 2009 to 2021 Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) Quality of Life (QoL) surveys among migrant populations in two ways: a full sample and a gender-stratified sample. A sample of male and female migrants ranging from 15 to 49 years of age were recruited into this study. Cantril’s Self- Anchoring Ladder Life Satisfaction scale captured their life satisfaction alongside relevant social demographic factors. Descriptive statistics were applied for the data analysis of the demographic factors. Bivariate and multivariate logistics regression analyses were conducted to assess the associations and the predictive factors of life satisfaction among migrants, both internal and international. Results The key findings were the gender distribution of life satisfaction, showing that more international (male – 66.0% and female – 67.1%) migrants reported having a thriving life satisfaction than internal migrants (male – 61.7% and female – 61.5%). Findings from the Pearson correlation coefficient revealed a significant association between the individual, household, and community factors by migrant status (ρ < 0.05). However, the probit coefficients revealed that individual factors (age 48+: AOR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.13, 3.23, and secondary/higher education: AOR = 1.1., 95% CI: 0.01, 1.19) and household factors (two persons living in households (H/H): AOR = 1.05, 95% CI: 0.50, 1.10), and community factors (international migrant status: AOR = 2.12, 95% CI: 0.08, 2.16) significantly increase the prediction of higher odds of life satisfaction by gender among migrants. The ordered logit coefficients also showed that individual factors (middle and high income and having health insurance) and household factors (receiving SASSA social grant) predicted the highest life satisfaction among migrants (internal and international). Conclusion We found substantial evidence that individual-, household-, and community-level factors were associated with life satisfaction among migrants. In particular, the pattern of life satisfaction varied slightly between male and female migrants, as well as with migrant status in South Africa. These findings collectively may provide helpful information for policymakers and practitioners to optimise interventions for migrant populations to improve their life satisfaction. Evidence from this study also calls on the government of South Africa to begin tracking the life satisfaction of its nationals, whether migrants or not.

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Why is it important?

South Africa is one of the top destination countries for migrants in Africa, with a migrant population of 2,137,519 (28%), as there are migration routes in and out of South Africa, most especially from neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe and Mozambique [1]. Given its advanced economy and relative political stability, South Africa has also experienced high volumes of immigration in recent years, attracting migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees from within and outside southern Africa. As a result, migration to and within South Africa is dynamic and diversified, even though migrants face a risky labour market and many forms of discrimination [2, 3]. Intraregional labour migration is also well-established in South Africa. Many people migrate from countries such as Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, and Zimbabwe to work in South Africa and Botswana. International migration is enhanced by migration policies to support various forms of migration, including visits and vacations, study, and the movement of skilled labour [4, 5]. Recent studies have revealed that the number of international migrants in South Africa has increased from 2 million in 2010 to over 4 million in 2019, but then declined to nearly 2.9 million in mid-2020. This amounts to roughly 4.8% of South Africa’s total population. Of these migrants, 43.1% were female, 11.1% were 19 and younger, and 7.1% were 65 and older [5]. However, data on levels of internal migration in Africa are limited, with South Africa and Zambia revealing greater levels of internal migration among countries in the southern African region [5].

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