This review analyses the theoretical concept of quality of life in light of the existing literature on this topic. It describes quality of life as seen from Latin American migrants' perceptions and the factors impacting the quality of life for migrant and refugees not only in New Zealand but worldwide as well. Finally, this review explores the complexity of migrant and refugee status from the political, cultural, social and economic perspectives associated with their quality of life.
Extensive research on the settlement and experiences of refugees and immigrants has been conducted in New Zealand and globally. Nevertheless, there is a significant gap in the research related to Latin American migrants and refugees in New Zealand and their perception of quality of life. Although, some postgraduate studies have been conducted, those studies are based on the stories and experiences of Latin American immigrants and refugees as two different groups. For example, the first research with Latin Americans in New Zealand was conducted in 1996 by Barnard (1996), on "Chilean refugee women's experiences in reconstructing their lives around a future in New Zealand". The most recent study on Latin American people in New Zealand was conducted in 2019 by Nodesco (2019), about exploring the motivations of Argentinean women to embark on a self-initiated expatriation to New Zealand.
Table of Contents
1. CHAPTER ONE: theoretical review of the concept quality of life
2. CHAPTER TWO: the subjective approach
3. CHAPTER THREE: the objective approach
4. CHAPTER FOUR: a third approach: the existential approach
5. CHAPTER FIVE: Latin Mmerican migrants’ perceptions of quality of life
5.1 The Quality of Life of Latinos in Latin America
6. CHAPTER SIX: the quality of life of Latinos in the first world
6.1 Latin American migrants in the First World
6.2 Latin American refugees in the First World
7. CHAPTER SEVEN: factors impacting the quality of life for migrant and refugees
7.1 Discrimination
7.2 Language barriers
7.3 Low income and unemployment
7.4 Mental health issues
7.5 Lack of social network
7.6 Family-related issues
8. CHAPTER EIGHT: the migrant and refugee status perceived from four perspectives and its impact on quality of life
8.1 The political perspective
8.2 The cultural perspective
8.3 The social perspective
Research Objectives and Themes
This work explores the theoretical concept of "quality of life" to analyze the migration experiences of Latin Americans in New Zealand and globally. It addresses the lack of specific research on this demographic by synthesizing existing literature, examining how subjective, objective, and existential factors influence the perceptions of migrants and refugees, and investigating socio-economic and cultural challenges that impact their overall well-being.
- Theoretical conceptualization of quality of life (subjective, objective, and existential approaches).
- Latin American migration patterns and their perception of quality of life in developed countries.
- Primary challenges faced by migrants, including discrimination, language barriers, and economic integration.
- Multidimensional analysis of migrant status from political, cultural, social, and economic perspectives.
Excerpt from the Book
The political perspective
According to the International Organization for Migration (2018), "migration is increasingly seen as a high-priority policy issue by many governments, politicians and the broader public throughout the world" (p. 1). White and Johnson (2016) suggest that political governments are concerned about the effect of migration on individual political behaviour, as well as state or institutional behaviour. Similarly, Biderbost (2010) says that immigration modifies social patterns; which generate political responses, that affect the political system. Brown-Gort (2016) argues that from the political perspective, migration affects national policies, national security policies, regional relations and the social and economic aspects of nations. Although migration is considered primarily as a socio-demographic phenomenon, several studies consider it a political issue that impacts on state policies (International Organization for Migration, 2018; Brown-Gort, 2016; White and Johnson, 2016; Biderbost, 2010).
According to Brown-Gort (2016), the complexity of the migration phenomenon affects national and international policies. For example, in the internal politics of the receiving countries, migration could create conflicts that affect the local population, generating an increase in public spending on security, education, health and other related aspects. On the other hand, Brown-Gort (2016) argues that migrants influence the politics of the country from which they leave and also in the politics of the nation where they arrive Brown-Gort (2016).
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER ONE: theoretical review of the concept quality of life: This chapter explores the historical definition of quality of life, focusing on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and the transition toward a multidimensional framework.
CHAPTER TWO: the subjective approach: This section details how personal experiences, feelings, and cognitive satisfaction form the foundation of the subjective approach to measuring quality of life.
CHAPTER THREE: the objective approach: This chapter examines the reliance on tangible economic and social indicators, such as wealth and housing, to define quality of life from a quantitative perspective.
CHAPTER FOUR: a third approach: the existential approach: This chapter introduces the existential dimension, suggesting that deeper spiritual and religious fulfillment is the missing component to unify the subjective and objective views.
CHAPTER FIVE: Latin Mmerican migrants’ perceptions of quality of life: This section investigates how Latin American migrants perceive their living conditions in new cultural contexts, with a focus on communities in New Zealand and beyond.
CHAPTER SIX: the quality of life of Latinos in the first world: This chapter contrasts the integration and quality of life experiences of economic migrants versus refugees in developed nations.
CHAPTER SEVEN: factors impacting the quality of life for migrant and refugees: This chapter identifies and analyzes six major obstacles: discrimination, language barriers, poverty/unemployment, mental health issues, social isolation, and family fragmentation.
CHAPTER EIGHT: the migrant and refugee status perceived from four perspectives and its impact on quality of life: The final chapter synthesizes the impact of migration through political, cultural, social, and economic lenses to understand the complexity of the migrants' experiences.
Keywords
Quality of life, Latin American migrants, New Zealand, socio-economic factors, subjective well-being, discrimination, migration status, existential approach, refugees, integration, mental health, language barriers, political perspectives, cultural identity, social network.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this literature review?
This work fundamentally examines the concept of "quality of life" to explore its application to Latin American migrants and refugees, specifically identifying the gaps in existing research regarding their well-being in New Zealand.
What are the main theoretical approaches to quality of life discussed?
The book details three distinct lenses: the subjective approach (based on personal perception), the objective approach (based on socio-economic markers), and the existential approach (based on deeper spiritual fulfillment).
What is the core research objective?
The objective is to synthesize literature to understand how immigration status and structural challenges, such as discrimination, impact the perceived quality of life of Latin Americans moving to developed nations.
What methodologies are represented in this review?
The work acts as a comprehensive literature review, drawing from diverse sources including ethnographic studies, sociological analyses, and statistical reporting from international bodies like the UN and the World Bank.
What major barriers to successful integration are highlighted?
The book focuses on six primary challenges: experiences of discrimination, language barriers, low income and unemployment, mental health issues, lack of established social networks, and family-related challenges.
Which specific demographic is the focal point?
While the study incorporates global data, its primary focus is on Latin American immigrants and refugees, with a particular emphasis on their experiences in New Zealand.
How does the book address the impact of politics on migration?
Chapter Eight analyzes the political perspective, arguing that migration is increasingly treated as a security issue by governments, which directly perpetuates discrimination and negatively impacts the perceived quality of life of migrants.
What role does culture play in the integration process?
The cultural perspective explores how migrants form "hybrid identities" to reconcile their origins with their new environments, and how this process can lead to both enrichment and exclusionary responses from host populations.
- Citar trabajo
- Dr. Alfredo Jose Lopez Severiche (Autor), 2022, The Quality of Life of Latin Americans in New Zealand and globally. A Literature review, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1297842
