-Meaning making in well-being and positive adjustment among African migrants in Africa: A scoping review

Abstract

Meaning-making has been shown to play a role in positive adjustment and well-being in studies. However, there is a scarcity of data on the meaning-making and well-being of African migrants in the global South. The study used a scoping review methodology to examine literature over the last 13 years to understand how meaning-making influences the well-being of African migrants in the global South. We searched for peer-reviewed literature on well-being among African migrants in the global South in databases such as MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Healthstar, and EMBASE. Twenty-four articles satisfied our criteria for inclusion and were examined, with summaries falling into two categories: social networks and support community and sense of cultural practices and spirituality. The findings demonstrated that a sense of community, traditional practices, and rites, as well as religion, created spaces for meaning-making for African migrants. This contributes to the alleviation of stress and well-being promotion. A lack of meaning-making may lead to a loss of cultural and spiritual identities as well as a loss of sense of control of the world, creating intense distress. The findings highlight the necessity for culturally relevant health programs for African migrants, as well as for host countries to create immigration laws that are attentive to the requirements of the migrant population.