Lived Experience Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic among Arabic-, Russian- and Somali-Speaking Migrants in Finland

Eerika Finell, Marja Tiilikainen, Inga Jasinskaja-Lahti, Nasteho Hasan and Fairuz Muthana
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Eerika Finell: Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, 33014 Tampere, Finland
Marja Tiilikainen: Migration Institute of Finland, 20500 Turku, Finland
Inga Jasinskaja-Lahti: University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
Nasteho Hasan: Tampere University, 33014 Tampere, Finland
Fairuz Muthana: Tampere University, 33014 Tampere, Finland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 5, 1-18

Abstract: Increasing research shows that migrants are disproportionately exposed to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, little is known about their lived experience and related meaning-making. This qualitative study maps COVID-19-related experiences among respondents from three migrant groups living in Finland: Somali-, Arabic- and Russian-speakers ( N = 209). The data were collected by telephone interviews over four weeks in March and April 2020. Using inductive thematic analysis, we identified seven themes that illustrate respondents’ multifaceted lived experiences during the first phase of pandemic. The themes depict respondents’ difficulties and fears, but also their resilience and resources to cope, both individually and collectively. Experiences varied greatly between individuals and migrant groups. The main conclusion is that although the COVID-19 pandemic may be an especially stressful experience for migrant populations, it may also provide opportunities to deepen cooperation and trust within migrant communities, and between migrants and their country of settlement. Our analysis suggests that cooperation between local authorities and migrants, trust-building and effective information-sharing can foster positive and functional adaptations to disease-related threats and changing social environments.

Keywords: COVID-19; pandemic; migrants; experiences; disease-related threats; health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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