Sense of place and mental wellness amongst African immigrants in Canada

ABSTRACT

This study examines the effects of self-perceived mental wellness and other socio-economic variables on sense of place amongst Ghanaian and Somali immigrants living in Hamilton, Ontario. Research results are based on the analysis of survey questionnaires (n = 236) of Ghanaian and Somali immigrant adults, with recent (0–5 years), mid-term (6–10 years), and long-term (more than 10 years) residency in Canada. Our findings revealed several significant factors of sense of place, including self-perceived mental wellness, income, age, employment, citizenship status, marital status, dwelling type, and length of residency in Canada. The findings highlight the need for research to incorporate sense of place into studies on visible minority immigrants and to focus on those factors contributing to place attachment amongst recent immigrants.

KEYWORDS:

• African immigrants
• sense of place
• mental wellness
• Canada

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Boadi Agyekum

Boadi Agyekum (PhD) is a researcher from the Department of Geography, McMaster University, Canada. He is interested in immigrants’ resettlement and integration processes. His current research project focuses on African immigrant community belonging and integration in Canada.

K. Bruce Newbold

K. Bruce Newbold (PhD) is a professor of Geography at McMaster University, Canada. He is currently the director of the School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University. His research focuses on internal migration in Canada and the United States and, immigration and health.