Community Resilience and Migration: Using Best Evidence Synthesis to Promote Migrant Welfare

Abstract

Community resilience is an important success factor in migration. Many migrants experience behavioral and psychological change due to hardships post-migration. Migrant communities that learn to withstand these hardships are said to be resilient. This paper discusses the different factors that influence migration and the level of community resilience. These factors are: empowerment, social networks, change in the ecological and natural environment and economic factors. By using the best evidence synthesis methodology, this study was able to select the most commonly discussed stressors, practices and desired outcomes. In the thirty-one studies reviewed, the variables that had the highest impact on migrant communities were ranked to help community organizations determine which practices to prioritize in building resilience among migrants. Community actions that back migrant integration, health and well-being, education and support services ranked the highest in this best evidence study. These rankings are important in identifying and prioritizing community developmental opportunities that enhance migrant resilience during the settlement process.