When culture meets culture, psychosocial effects on migrants' well-being : a case study of Ghanian migrants living in Britain

Abstract

There has been great mobility due to the advances in technology, and migration takes the center stage. Achieving an optimal level of wellbeing is paramount to most people, and migrants are not different. Whereas existing literature has focused much on the economic impact of migration, there has not been much research on the impact of migration on the migrant’s wellbeing. Very little is documented of the Ghanaian migrants and their wellbeing in Britain. Thus, the aim of this study is to gain a better understanding of the psychosocial wellbeing of Ghanaian migrants living in London. The present study used data from a semi-structured qualitative interview guide. Data includes interviews with five families as well as individual one-on-one interviews. Using thematic analysis, this research reveals how policies in Britain impact the health and wellbeing of Ghanaian migrants. Access to health, migration status, religious factors, as well as the lack of social support were all found to impact the acculturation process and therefore, on the migrants’ health and happiness. These findings are discussed in relation to relevant theories and related work in the area of migration. Change in policies in Britain is recommended with increasing cultural diversity, and hence, the implications for community psychology praxis are considered with appropriate conclusions.