Loneliness in migrants: Are there differences compared to non-migrants? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Natalia Martín-María, Andrés Pemau, Laura Alejandra Rico-Uribe et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined loneliness in migrants compared with non-migrants, drawing on quantitative studies identified through searches of four databases. Forty studies were included in the review; 30 contributed to the meta-analysis, comprising 258,387 participants, of whom 18.6% were migrants. After adjustment for moderators, migration was associated with higher loneliness (g = 0.21; 95% CI [0.13, 0.30], z = 4.92, p < .01). The authors also reported substantial between-study heterogeneity, and analyses found no statistically significant effects of sex, age, or loneliness scale.
Key findings
- Across 30 studies and 258,387 participants, migrants reported higher loneliness than non-migrants (g = 0.21; 95% CI [0.13, 0.30], z = 4.92, p < .01).
- The meta-analysis found substantial between-study heterogeneity.
- Moderator analyses found no statistically significant effects for sex, age, or loneliness scale used.
Why it matters
The pooled association suggests that loneliness is an important aspect of migrant well-being to consider in research and policy discussions about social integration. However, substantial heterogeneity indicates that the observed difference varied across studies, so the overall estimate should not be assumed to apply uniformly to all migrant groups or settings.
What to keep in mind
Substantial between-study heterogeneity limits the consistency of the pooled estimate. The evidence is based on quantitative studies and establishes an association, not that migration causes loneliness.