Migrating for Love
Love is one of the biggest sources of inspiration and a driving force of orientation in life. In this globalized world, the commitment and devotion to a relationship can lead to moving countries and crossing cultures.
Acculturation and Adaptation of Migrating Partners
Background
Living in another country and adapting to a new society, often another culture and language, comes with personal effort. This may enrich a person with multi-culturalism and a second home. Yet, even after years of living in a country "feeling at home" isn’t always a given.
Switzerland is known for stability and a high quality of life. Although its population is highly multicultural, adapting to the new life may be difficult.
People who choose to migrate out of commitment to a relationship not only leave family, friends, and social networks behind, but often jobs and professional careers. Finding employment or continuing/changing career can be difficult. Also, being foreign-born makes them more vulnerable to discrimination and more susceptible to the feeling of being treated unfairly. This may not only affect well-being, but also the sense of belonging to the country. Social support, on the other hand, can promote well-being during cultural adaptation.
Aims
With this project, we aim to examine how English speaking migrating partners are adapting to living in Switzerland, if they develop a sense of belonging or not, and what role their social support network play. We particularly look at challenges migrating partners might face, such as finding paid employment and the feeling of being discriminated. Furthermore, we evaluate the roles internal (e.g., resilience) and external (e.g., social support) resources play in the process of adapting to Switzerland.
Online Survey
Please consider taking the survey, if
- the main reason for moving to Switzerland was for a partner/spouse whose home country or country of residence is/was Switzerland
- OR for a partner/spouse who relocated internationally to Switzerland for employment or education
- currently live in Switzerland
- not initially moved to seek asylum/refuge
- fluent in English
- non-Swiss by birth
- 18 years of age or older
The anonymous survey takes about 10 minutes, with the chance of winning a prize.
Take survey
► Click here to get to the survey start. On the first page you will find more information surrounding the project.
We appreciate if you share this survey with friends and family who could contribute to this study.
Publications
In line with Open Science, published material connected to this research project will be linked here.
Fact Sheet
Project title : Migrating for Love: Acculturation and Adaptation of Migrating Partners in Switzerland
Data Collection : starting February 2022
Project Leader : Erica Chew Howard
Collaborator : PD Dr. Yoon Phaik Ooi
Team
Collaborator
PD Dr. Yoon Phaik Ooi
University of Basel
Project leader of University of Basel’s Home Abroad Study