The impact of discrimination on immigrants’ well-being in European countries: A systematic review

In the last decades, migration toward European countries has increased due to the multiplication of local conflicts and worsening living conditions caused by climate change. This has often resulted in increased anti-immigrant sentiments and different forms of discrimination. In turn, research has consistently shown that discrimination against immigrants can be detrimental to their well-being. The present contribution addresses this issue by reviewing research on the impact of experienced and perceived discrimination on the well-being of immigrants in European countries. We considered both hedonic and eudaimonic well-being and several social outcomes. The results align with research conducted outside Europe, demonstrating a robust association between discrimination and psychological and social outcomes (e.g., depression and anxiety, life satisfaction, and social interactions) among immigrants. Factors such as cultural distance from the native population, sense of belonging to the host country, and trust in institutions and people have emerged as moderators of the main effects. Additionally, mediators such as prejudice attributions and acculturation processes have been identified. Overall, these results suggest that building inclusive societies can be achieved only by affirming the rights of individuals from various social groups to succeed in different contexts within a healthy environment. However, they also advocate that more longitudinal and multilevel studies are needed to fully understand the effects of prejudice and discrimination on immigrants.