Health, Well‐being, and Social Context of Samoan Migrant Populations

Abstract

A minimal estimate suggests 300,000 Samoans reside outside the Samoan archipelago in the United States, New Zealand, and Australia. Anthropological studies of Samoan migration provide a broader perspective that emphasizes the deep connections among individuals and families residing in and outside the Samoas, and the adaptive nature of these connections. A review of the published socioeconomic, demographic, public health, and medical literatures indicates that Samoans residing outside the Samoas may be at high risk for poor levels of population health because of poverty, low health literacy, and sociocultural influences on health care knowledge, attitude, and access. There is little systematic information on Samoans in the United States and Australia. Based on trends from smaller studies and the national data from New Zealand, we recommend more population‐based health research among Samoans. Studies of representative samples will provide more accurate assessments of the spectrum of social and economic characteristics, acculturative processes, the returns and costs of connectedness to the families and villages in the Samoas, and population health characteristics. Studies should emphasize not only the negative costs to health and well‐being of migration but the processes of adjustment, accommodation, and adaptation that produce the varieties of ways of life among Samoans outside the Samoas.

Dietary habits of Samoan adults in an urban Australian setting: a cross-sectional study

“…Henceforth, this population will be referred to as Samoans. Samoans are more susceptible to poor levels of population health as a result of various determinants underpinning their attitudes, access and knowledge of health care, such as socio-cultural issues, low socio-economic status and low health literacy ( 6 , 7 ) . Consequently, Samoans suffer disproportionate rates of non-communicable diseases and avoidable hospital admissions ( 7 – 9 ) .…”

The contribution of feeding mode to obesogenic growth trajectories in American Samoan infants

“…This issue is not just confined to this small island territory, Polynesians are the fastest growing population group in the US and there are large communities in Australia, New Zealand and other nations worldwide who also display highly prevalent obesity traits . The level of adult obesity seen in American Samoa in women of childbearing age, a probable contributor to infant obesity, is likely to foreshadow the experience of other developing countries as they undergo similar economic, demographic and nutritional transition to that experienced in American Samoa.…”

Behavioral and perceived stressor effects on urinary catecholamine excretion in adult samoans

“…Such analysis may also elucidate biopsychosocial aspects of individual exposure to socio-economic change and cardiovascular disease risk underlying previously observed ecological differences in psychosocial arousal (Bergey et al, 2010) that persisted after adjustment for the individual-level differences observed in the present analysis. Finally, economic development, migration, emigrant remittances to aiga and matai , and changing opportunities for social, political, and economic advancement within villages continue to occur in Samoa and American Samoa and among Samoan communities outside of the archipelago (Macpherson and Macpherson, 2009; McGarvey and Seiden, 2010). Further research on stress and health in the Samoas, and elsewhere, must consider and attempt to assess the historical and socio-cultural context of these dynamic changes.…”

“…Chiefs are typically male and their title represents the highest social rank - a rank that symbolizes maturity and prestige, or mamalu (Pitt, 1970). Despite substantial emigration, the aiga and village remain important influences to those residing in other parts of Samoa or abroad, resulting in substantial migrant remittances, active involvement in social and political life, and feelings of connectedness (Ahlberg, 1995; Lilomaiava-Doktor, 2009; Macpherson and Macpherson, 2000; Macpherson and Macpherson, 2009, McGarvey and Seiden, 2010). …”