Beyond Migration: Examining the Impact of Migration Experience, Gender, and Ethno-Caste Identity on Mental Health

Abstract

What are the effects of migration on the mental health of migrants in Nepal? How does ethno-caste identity and gender moderate the association between migration and mental health? Taking an intersectional approach, this study examines the combined effects of migration experience, ethno-caste identity, and gender as a multidimensional social determinant of health. It leverages the Chitwan Valley Family Study, a comprehensive panel dataset, and event history analysis to address these questions in the context of Nepal. The case of Nepal is an important one for understanding the relationship between mental health and domestic and international migration. Migration in Nepal has become a major source of economic activity- leading to large segments of the population leaving to work abroad, returning home, and often, leaving again. This paper examines the interplay between migration, ethno-caste, and gender to influence mental health, thereby more carefully investigating the role social stigma, social status, and migratory community histories have on mental health disorder diagnoses. The results indicate that international migration increases the likelihood of mental health disorders for females from lower ethno-caste categories compared to their upper-ethno-caste or male counterparts. However, for female international Brahmin/Chettri and Newari migrants, ethno-caste acts as a protective factor. Additionally, the probability of experiencing a mental health disorder either decreases or remains the same for most male migrants, except for Terai Janajati males, whose probability increases with each additional month away internationally. These findings indicate that gender relationships can vary within specific ethno-caste groups, highlighting the importance of investigating both inter- and intra-ethno-caste social mechanisms.