Social remittances and interpersonal communication: Moldovans in Prague and Turin

Abstract

The authors contribute to filling a gap that exists in the knowledge of personal communications and their interaction with social remittances. Moldovans in Prague, Czechia, and Turin, Italy, and communications with their families and peers in Moldova are studied using our own survey data (from 2017/2018 – N = 203 in Prague and N = 206 in Turin, factor analysis used). We argue that there is a close relationship between interpersonal communication topics (while themes linked to everyday activities dominate over serious broader structural and institutional domestic or “global issues”) and real social remittances. Particular communication topics have their typical bearers in relation to age, gender, and education. The geographical context matters. Prague attracted Moldovans who stay abroad for a shorter time and are less educated, less integrated, and more transnational than those in Turin. Hence, Prague Moldovans communicate more and also transfer more social remittances. However, the overall impact of these social remittances upon Moldova is small.

Determinants of self-rated health among highly educated Ukrainian women refugees in Czechia: analysis based on cross-sectional study in 2022

“…The likelihood of declaring poor self-rated health increases with the number of people close enough that the individual can count on them in case of serious problems. Although the questions do not identify more precisely whether these are support networks made up of Czechs or Ukrainian compatriots, it is suggested that in this case weak ties (created with acquaintances with whom we have less powerful connections) rather than strong ties (people we know well, trust, and speak to them often) are more likely to be promoted [ 66 – 68 ]. Other possible explanation can be related to the fact that different social classes have access to different sets of resources.…”