A substantial body of research has shown worse health conditions for East- vs.
West-Germany in the wake of reunification. In the present study, we investigate how
these differences between the two formerly divided regions developed and what
maintains them. Specifically, we consider the associations between health status,
income satisfaction, and health-related locus of control. In a quasi-experimental and
longitudinal study design, we are particularly interested in the differences between
individuals who stayed in East-Germany and those who were born in the East but
migrated to West-Germany. To this end, we examined data from seven waves of the
Saxony Longitudinal Study (2003–2009). Specifically, we tested a cross-lagged panel
model with random effects, which evinced very good model fit. Most parameters and
processes were equivalent between individuals who stayed in East-Germany vs. moved
to West-Germany. Crucially, there was the expected pattern of positive correlations
between health, income, and locus of control. In addition, we found substantially lower
values for all three of these variables for the individuals who stayed in East-Germany
(vs. moved to West-Germany). A possible explanation is the increase in socio-economic
status that the internal migrants experienced. These findings present an important
contribution of research in order to foster a better understanding on the social dynamics
in Germany related to internal/domesticmigrants and implications in the context of health
outcomes (e.g., significantly more unemployment in East vs. West-Germany), especially
since almost 20–25% of East-German citizens migrated to West-Germany. Until now,
there are no similar studies to the Saxony longitudinal project, since the data collection
started in 1987 and almost every year an identical panel has been surveyed; which can
be particularly useful for health authorities. The study mainly focuses on social science
research and deals with the phenomenon of reunification, approaching several subjects
such as mental and physical health, quality of life and the evaluation of the political
system. Yet even though many people have experienced such a migration process, there
has been little research on the subjects we approach. With our research we deepen the
understanding of the health consequences of internal migration.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:DRESDEN/oai:qucosa:de:qucosa:84435 |
| Date | 30 March 2023 |
| Creators | Schmalbach, Bjarne, Schmalbach, Ileana, Kasinger, Christoph, Petrowski, Katja, Brähler, Elmar, Zenger, Markus, Stöbel-Richter, Yve, Richter, Ernst Peter, Berth, Hendrik |
| Publisher | Frontiers Research Foundation |
| Source Sets | Hochschulschriftenserver (HSSS) der SLUB Dresden |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion, doc-type:article, info:eu-repo/semantics/article, doc-type:Text |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| Relation | 2296-2565, 691680 |
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