How do underemployment and unemployment take an impact on the psychological well-being of highly educated immigrants in Denmark and Germany? - A comparative analysis.
Author
Norton-Erichsen, Nadine
Term
4. term
Publication year
2015
Pages
170
Abstract
Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan underbeskæftigelse og arbejdsløshed påvirker den psykiske trivsel hos højtuddannede indvandrere i Danmark og Tyskland. Underbeskæftigelse forstås som at arbejde under ens kvalifikationsniveau eller færre timer end ønsket. Undersøgelsen bygger på kvalitative interviews i begge lande. Migration er i sig selv en stor livsbegivenhed med mange stressfaktorer, og studiet ser på, hvordan den ekstra belastning ved jobmangel eller job, der ikke matcher kompetencerne, påvirker trivsel. Deltagerne beskrev også ændringer i personlighed og sociale relationer i perioder uden passende arbejde. De fortalte om forskellige mestringsstrategier i mødet med en vanskelig arbejdsmarkedssituation. Resultaterne peger på, at både underbeskæftigelse og arbejdsløshed kan påvirke den psykiske trivsel betydeligt. Partnere spiller en vigtig rolle med følelsesmæssig støtte og praktisk hjælp, f.eks. til motiverede ansøgninger. Mange fremhævede, at motion bidrog til bedre trivsel. En foreslået retning for fremtidig forskning er at sammenligne højtuddannede indvandrere med højtuddannede i den indfødte befolkning for at kunne skelne mellem forskellige effekter.
This thesis examines how underemployment and unemployment affect the psychological well-being of highly educated immigrants in Denmark and Germany. Underemployment is understood as working below one’s qualifications or fewer hours than desired. The study is based on qualitative interviews conducted in both countries. Because migration is already a major life event with many stressors, the research looks at how the added strain of joblessness or job mismatch influences well-being. Participants also described changes in personality and social relationships during periods without suitable work. They shared various coping strategies for dealing with difficulties in the host countries’ labour markets. The findings indicate that both underemployment and unemployment can significantly affect psychological well-being. Partners play an important role by providing emotional support and practical help, such as with cover letters. Many participants emphasized that physical exercise supported better well-being. Future research is recommended to compare highly educated immigrants with highly educated natives in order to distinguish effects.
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Keywords
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