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Undocumented migrants’ life situations: An exploratory analysis of quality of life and living conditions in a sample of undocumented migrants living in Norway

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  • Trine Myhrvold
  • Milada C. Småstuen

Abstract

Aims and objectives To gather insight in conditions important to an understanding of undocumented migrants’ life situations and more specifically to explore undocumented migrants’ quality of life and how we can understand the various domains of quality of life related to demographics, living conditions, migration history and inflicted burden. Background Undocumented migrants suffer from economic hardship and acculturative stress, limited psychological and social support and at the same time restricted access to health care and social welfare. Design An exploratory mixed methods design using primarily quantitative data with a qualitative component was implemented. Methods Sociodemographic data on 90 undocumented migrants were collected, and self‐report questionnaires on quality of life and psychological distress were completed, supplemented by qualitative data obtained through interviews and additional qualitative questions. The STROBE checklist for cross‐sectional studies was used for reporting this study. Results Quality of life in our group of undocumented migrants was poor. Leaving their home country because of war or persecution, hunger, having experienced abuse, homelessness and higher age were statistically significantly associated with poorer quality of life. Having membership in a local association and having a partner were statistically significantly associated with better quality of life. Qualitative data indicate that marginal living conditions, fear of death and suffering and conditions associated with dependency were the main components comprising the burden to our respondents, reflecting their precarious juridical status as undocumented migrants. Conclusion Our respondents’ poor quality of life was related to the complex interplay between possible exposures to traumatic experiences before and during flight and post‐migration traumatisation in relation to our respondents’ experiences of economic, social and acculturative hardship in Norway. Relevance to Clinical Practice Responses called for to improve undocumented migrants’ quality of life and eliminate barriers to their health care appeal more to nurses as a professional group and to those in positions of authority than each individual nurse on duty.

Suggested Citation

  • Trine Myhrvold & Milada C. Småstuen, 2019. "Undocumented migrants’ life situations: An exploratory analysis of quality of life and living conditions in a sample of undocumented migrants living in Norway," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(11-12), pages 2073-2087, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jocnur:v:28:y:2019:i:11-12:p:2073-2087
    DOI: 10.1111/jocn.14743
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Trine Myhrvold & Milada Cvancarova Småstuen, 2017. "The mental healthcare needs of undocumented migrants: an exploratory analysis of psychological distress and living conditions among undocumented migrants in Norway," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(5-6), pages 825-839, March.
    2. Coffey, Guy J. & Kaplan, Ida & Sampson, Robyn C. & Tucci, Maria Montagna, 2010. "The meaning and mental health consequences of long-term immigration detention for people seeking asylum," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(12), pages 2070-2079, June.
    3. Viladrich, Anahí, 2012. "Beyond welfare reform: Reframing undocumented immigrants’ entitlement to health care in the United States, a critical review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(6), pages 822-829.
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    1. José Antonio Ponce-Blandón & Rocío Romero-Castillo & Nerea Jiménez-Picón & Juan Carlos Palomo-Lara & Aurora Castro-Méndez & Manuel Pabón-Carrasco, 2021. "Lived Experiences of African Migrants Crossing the Strait of Gibraltar to Europe: A Cross-Cultural Approach to Healthcare from a Qualitative Methodology," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-13, September.
    2. Ana Gama & João Victor Rocha & Maria J. Marques & Sofia Azeredo-Lopes & Ana Rita Pedro & Sónia Dias, 2022. "How Did the COVID-19 Pandemic Affect Migrant Populations in Lisbon, Portugal? A Study on Perceived Effects on Health and Economic Condition," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-10, February.

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