Shared immigration process, different perspectives: The impact of immigration-related gaps on couple relationships

Abstract

Improving couples’ immigration experience requires characterizing aspects of the immigration process that affect couple relationships. Past research has set forth that post-immigration gaps between partners (discrepancies in their respective cultural adaptation) represent a key aspect. Accordingly, the present research investigated what kind of post-immigration gaps impact migrants’ couple relationship following immigration and how they do so. We used a qualitative dyadic research design, including in-depth open-ended interviews with each partner separately. This design allowed us to understand the experience of migrant couples at the dyadic level. The most notable challenges for couples were related to gaps in employment, finances, legal status, and satisfaction. Gaps led to conflicts in four situations: when one partner felt a lack of support from, or quality time with the other partner; when one partner experienced economic pressure because of his–her gender role values; when one partner had sole responsibility for his–her family stability and legal status in the host country; and when partners did not manage to make joint decisions when facing disagreement.