Interlinkages of History of Migration, Social Network, and Well-Being: A Study through the Lens of Life Course

This study examines the intermediatory effect of social networks on well-being considering the migration history, e.g., migration in childhood, adulthood, and later life. Migration hugely impacts social network dynamics, significantly influencing individual well-being across the life course. We utilize the data from the second wave of the WHO-Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health (WHO-SAGE) Survey 2015. The SAGE is nationally representative and collects comprehensive longitudinal information on the health and well-being of the adult population and the aging process. We applied bivariate and multivariate regression models to assess the effect of any migration history on individuals' well-being at a later age.

Additionally, we employed the SEM-Path regression models to assess the effect of the event of migration in each life stage (such as migration in childhood, in adulthood, and in the later stage of life) on the social networks and the effect of social networks on well-being controlling for all other demographic-socioeconomic and household characteristics. The findings of this study suggest significant interlinkages of migration history, social network, and well-being across the life course. The finding also highlights the heterogeneity based on rural place of birth, social and religious status, and employment type, significantly determining the individual’s overall well-being.