ZusammenfassungFragestellung Welche Faktoren spielen für die psychische Gesundheit von Binnenmigrierten im Vergleich zu Nichtmigrierten eine Rolle?Methode Daten der Sächsischen Längsschnittstudie aus den Jahren 2010 und 2020 wurden benutzt, um mithilfe von Bootstrapping-basierten Mediationsanalysen Binnenmigrierte mit Nichtmigrierten in ihrem Grad der psychischen Belastung zu vergleichen.Ergebnisse Binnenmigrierte berichteten 2010, aber nicht 2020, weniger psychische Belastung. Dieser Effekt verschwand, nachdem Kovariaten und Mediatoren inkludiert wurden. Wichtige Mediatoren waren Lebenssituation, enge politische Verbundenheit mit der BRD, Gewinner der deutschen Einheit, Sicherheit am Arbeitsplatz (2010) und Bedrohung durch Altersarmut und Erfahrungen mit dem System (2020).Fazit Binnenmigration wirkt durch verschiedene Faktoren auf die psychische Gesundheit. Insbesondere die aktuellen Lebensumstände spielen dabei eine entscheidende Rolle.

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Background In Germany there is a large wealth gap between East and West Germans as well as a gap in life satisfaction, with people in East Germany reporting to be less satisfied. This paper intends to shed light on the role of the different levels of wealth and their association with life satisfaction. On a wider scale, this paper examines psychological consequences of wealth inequality between large societal groups. Method Longitudinal data from the years 2007, 2012, and 2017 of the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) with a sample size of N = 5066 (Nfemale = 2522, Nwest = 3756, mage2007 = 50.46) was used. To test our hypothesis, multiple linear regression models as well as a fixed-effects regression model were run. Furthermore, to examine the development of wealth distribution between different birth cohorts in East and West Germany a latent growth curve model was calculated. Results Net-worth was found to be a highly significant predictor for life satisfaction. This holds true for variance between respondents as well as for individual change over time within respondents. Additionally, the results show that the wealth gap between East and West Germans in total as well as within most of the birth cohorts increased. Conclusion Due to their socialistic history and the related obstacles in acquiring wealth as well as the unbalanced distribution of GDR-assets after the reunification, East Germans are significantly less wealthy than West Germans. This has consequences on the mental well-being and the life satisfaction of East Germans.

A substantial body of research has shown worse health conditions for East- vs. West-Germany in the wake of reunification. In the present study, we investigate how these differences between the two formerly divided regions developed and what maintains them. Specifically, we consider the associations between health status, income satisfaction, and health-related locus of control. In a quasi-experimental and longitudinal study design, we are particularly interested in the differences between individuals who stayed in East-Germany and those who were born in the East but migrated to West-Germany. To this end, we examined data from seven waves of the Saxony Longitudinal Study (2003–2009). Specifically, we tested a cross-lagged panel model with random effects, which evinced very good model fit. Most parameters and processes were equivalent between individuals who stayed in East-Germany vs. moved to West-Germany. Crucially, there was the expected pattern of positive correlations between health, income, and locus of control. In addition, we found substantially lower values for all three of these variables for the individuals who stayed in East-Germany (vs. moved to West-Germany). A possible explanation is the increase in socio-economic status that the internal migrants experienced. These findings present an important contribution of research in order to foster a better understanding on the social dynamics in Germany related to internal/domestic migrants and implications in the context of health outcomes (e.g., significantly more unemployment in East vs. West-Germany), especially since almost 20–25% of East-German citizens migrated to West-Germany. Until now, there are no similar studies to the Saxony longitudinal project, since the data collection started in 1987 and almost every year an identical panel has been surveyed; which can be particularly useful for health authorities. The study mainly focuses on social science research and deals with the phenomenon of reunification, approaching several subjects such as mental and physical health, quality of life and the evaluation of the political system. Yet even though many people have experienced such a migration process, there has been little research on the subjects we approach. With our research we deepen the understanding of the health consequences of internal migration.

BackgroundAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur before the age of 18. The term encompasses various adverse childhood experiences, e.g., physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, physical and psychological neglect, and family dysfunction. Prevalence estimates for a broad spectrum of ACEs against the background of where childhood and adolescence were spent are scarcely available in Germany. This study examines the frequencies of adverse childhood experiences, considering growing up in East or West Germany or abroad and interacting with different age cohorts and gender.MethodsA total of 5,018 individuals (51.4% female) aged 14 years and older were retrospectively assessed on adverse childhood experiences using questionnaires “adverse childhood experiences” (ACE). Logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between birth cohort, gender, and where a person grew up. Descriptive statistics and univariate analyses were used to calculate frequencies, proportions, and unadjusted associations for each variable.Results37.4% (N = 1,878) of respondents reported experiencing at least one form of ACE. Individuals who grew up abroad report significantly more adverse childhood experiences than individuals in East or West Germany. Men and women who grew up in East Germany reported a lower rate of ACEs. We found significant effects for all predictors: Where childhood and adolescence were predominantly spent, year of birth, and gender. Significant differences in the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences within the gender groups were only found for sexual and physical abuse and substance dependence in the household.ConclusionThe results suggest that the socio-political context plays an essential role in the experience of adverse childhood experiences, both in frequency and risk. Thus, child abuse and neglect studies should increasingly focus on societal risk and protection mechanisms.

Zusammenfassung Ziel der Studie Das Ziel dieser Studie ist es, zu untersuchen, inwiefern innerdeutsche Migration (Binnenmigration) mit allgemeiner psychischer Belastung, Somatisierung, Depressivität und Angst assoziiert ist. Methode Daten aus zwei bevölkerungsrepräsentativen Befragungen (2020 und 2021; N=4922) wurden genutzt, um mit Hilfe von linearen Regressionsanalysen den Einfluss von Binnenmigration auf psychische Gesundheit zu untersuchen. Die allgemeine psychische Belastung mit den Dimensionen Somatisierung, Depressivität und Angst wurde mit der Kurzform des Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-18) erfasst. Außerdem wurden soziodemographische Merkmale (Geschlecht, Alter, Partnerschaft, Haushaltsäquivalenzeinkommen und Bildung) kontrolliert. Ergebnisse Binnenmigrierte vom Osten in den Westen berichteten, auch nach Kontrolle der soziodemografischen Faktoren, signifikant höhere Werte in der allgemeinen psychischen Belastung, Somatisierung, Depressivität und Angst als Personen, die im Osten aufgewachsen und geblieben sind. Es wurden keine Unterschiede gefunden zwischen Binnenmigrierten vom Westen in den Osten und Personen, die im Westen aufwuchsen und zur Zeit der Befragung noch im Westen lebten. Fazit Der Vergleich von psychischer Gesundheit in den neuen und alten Bundesländern sollte Binnenmigration als wichtigen Faktor berücksichtigen. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, dass sich insbesondere bei den Binnenmigrierten von Ost nach West eine erhöhte psychische Belastung findet.

Zusammenfassung Fragestellung Wie entwickelte sich die allgemeine und bereichsspezifische Lebenszufriedenheit in Ost- und Westdeutschland zwischen 1991 und 2020? Methode Auf Basis dreier repräsentativer Befragungen aus den Jahren 1991, 2006 und 2020 wurde die Lebenszufriedenheit in Ost- und Westdeutschland durch Mittelwertsvergleiche und Signifikanztestungen untersucht. Der Einfluss soziodemografischer Variablen wurde mittels univariater Varianzanalyse berechnet. Ergebnisse 1991 bestanden große Unterschiede in der allgemeinen Lebenszufriedenheit und den Bereichen Wohnen, Freizeit, Gesundheit, Finanzen und Beruf. Dabei berichteten Befragte in Ostdeutschland deutlich geringere Werte. Diese Differenzen glichen sich über den Erhebungszeitraum deutlich an. Fazit Die allgemeine und bereichsspezifische Lebenszufriedenheit in Ost- und Westdeutschland glichen sich über den Untersuchungszeitraum an. Die verbesserten Lebensbedingungen in Ostdeutschland könnten dabei eine entscheidende Rolle spielen.

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