Emotions and Society· 2026Q1
Conceptualizing emotional integration in the context of loneliness among single migrant men
- 1citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
A new concept, 'emotional integration,' is proposed to explain how single migrant men in Sweden and Italy cope with loneliness and emotional strain, influencing their sense of belonging and well-being.
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Key points
- Introduces 'emotional integration' as a new framework for understanding migrant well-being.
- Loneliness and emotional strain are significant challenges for single migrant men in Sweden and Italy.
- Social and sexual capital, alongside gendered expectations, influence men's ability to form relationships abroad.
- Emotional well-being is central to how migrant men navigate life in a new country.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
This article examines the emotional dimensions of migration by focusing on single migrant men living in Sweden and Italy. Based on interviews with 51 men from Syria, Poland, Bangladesh and Romania, the article investigates how loneliness shapes their everyday lives. The analysis highlights the forms of emotional strain that accompany transnational mobility, as well as the coping strategies migrant men employ to reduce their negative impact on their well-being. Drawing on debates within critical studies on men and masculinities, forms of capital, and integration frameworks, the article shows how limited social and sexual capital, gendered expectations, and context-specific norms influence men’s capacity to form different types of relationships while living abroad. The findings show that emotional well-being is a central element of how migrant men navigate life abroad. Based on the analysed data, the concept of emotional integration is developed, and the findings suggest that it should be seen as a significant dimension of migrants’ integration – one that sheds light on why some migrants come to feel anchored and at ease, while others remain distant, disconnected and emotionally unsettled.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Emotions and Society, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Demography
DemographySocial Sciences