What we do

We work in an investigation with the objective of studying and promoting the welfare and health of migrated people.

Why it is important?

In recent times there has been an intense migration worldwide, so it is necessary to achieve a better understanding of how migrants adapt and face the experiences of acculturation in the new host country.

Studying this process of psychosocial adaptation is important, since it affects sociocultural integration and the health status of the individual and, consequently, influences the social benefits of migration in the receiving country.

1. Study of Well-being and Health in the Migratory Process (I IN 170717 EN 162 FA 01)

During 2018, we worked in the phase focused on knowing and quantifying the prevalence of mental disorders in the recently arrived migrant population (up to 5 years from migration) and current resident of Barcelona and on the protective and risk factors that could intervene in integration in the first years.

Period: 01/01/2018 - 12/31/2018
Funding Entity: Ministry of Labor, Migration and Social Security
Reference: II IN 170717 EN 162 FA 01
Main researchers: Paula Cristóbal, José María Haro Abad, Yolanda Osorio
Amount granted: € 109,058.00

2. Post-Migration Health and Welfare Study: Detection of Psychosocial and Health Needs (II IN 180803 EN 162 FA 01)

During the year 2019, and as the first phase of the study, we are working to find out how the adaptation and acculturation process has taken place, through interviews, with people who have been in Spain for 5 to 15 years and who resides in the city of Barcelona. In addition, in the second phase of the project and with the information gathered to date, we will develop a pilot instrument that allows evaluating and intervening on relevant social and health factors related to the migration process, promoting a model of comprehensive care in all dimensions of person. This instrument will be built together with a committee of experts in the field at the national level and a working group formed by researchers from Catalonia, the Autonomous Community of Madrid and the Valencian Community.

Period: 01/01/2019 - 12/31/2019
Funding Entity: Ministry of Labor, Migration and Social Security
Reference: II IN 180,803 EN 162 FA 01
Principal Investigators: Paula Cristóbal, José María Haro Abad, Yolanda Osorio
Amount granted: € 114,652.00

3. Study of Good Practices for Well-Being and Health in the Migratory Process: Stress and Perceived Discrimination (II IN 190517 EN 162 FA 01)

During 2020, and as the first phase of the study, we analyzed in depth, through semi-structured interviews, those risk factors that most influence the health of recently arrived migrants (up to 5 years after migration), such as self-esteem, adverse experiences in childhood and/or adolescence, social discrimination and perceived stress.

As the second phase of the project, we are designing a good practice guide on the main modifiable risk factors of the social environment such as stress and perceived social discrimination and their impact on health; with the aim of promoting a comprehensive and socioculturally effective bio-psycho-social approach. Finally, we carry out platform dissemination tasks through our website in order to promote social awareness and the dissemination of the good practices included in the guide.

Period: 01/01/2020 - 12/31/2020
Funding Entity: Ministry of Labor, Migration and Social Security
Reference: II IN 190 517 EN 162 FA 01
Principal Investigators: Paula Cristóbal, José María Haro Abad, Yolanda Osorio
Amount granted: € 157,386.00

4. Impact of racism, discrimination and xenophobia on integration and health through new technologies (II IN 200803 EN 162 FA 01)

During the year 2021, we will carry out a new study to address the reality of discrimination and its impact on mental health through three levels of action. The first level of action includes the completion of longitudinal online questionnaires to collect data and understand the reality of discrimination in daily life, as well as factors related to adaptation and integration and an optimal state of physical and mental health throughout over time. On the other hand, the prevention and promotion of mental health implies a process of empowerment of the target people to increase their knowledge and control over their life experiences and the health determinants, thereby improving their well-being and quality of life. In this sense, the second level of action focuses on designing an innovative mobile application from an intercultural perspective.

Finally, through a working group at the national level, the third level of action focuses on disseminating the dissemination of results in various autonomous communities and promoting a cultural and spiritual biopsychosocial model that helps create a society that promote cultural diversity based on concepts such as cultural humility through social and community action activities.

Period: 01/01/2021 - 12/31/2021
Funding Entity: Ministry of Labor, Migration and Social Security
Principal Investigators: Paula Cristóbal, José María Haro Abad, Yolanda Osorio
Reference: II IN 190 517 EN 162 FA 01
Amount granted: € 108,223.00

Which entity finances this project?

Our studies have been funded in the Call for the National Program of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (FAMI) for the years 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

What other entities collaborate?

It is a project involving three centers of the Juan Ciudad Foundation (Hospital Order of San Juan de Dios).

In addition, the following organizations have collaborated in gathering information:

Fundació Privada Bayt al-Thaqafa
Associació de Treballadors Pakistanesos

Would you like to participate in the study?

We are looking for 1000 foreigners in Barcelona who want to share, confidentially, their experience in the immigration process.

Participate