Which hierarchy matters? Subjective social status, status incongruence and well-being among high-skilled Mainland Chinese migrants in Hong Kong. (March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sun, Skylar Biyang; Jin, Lei
• Other Names: Fong Eric guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Asian and Pacific migration journal. Volume 32:Number 1(2023)
• Page Start: 33
• Page End: 59
• Publication Date: 2023-03
• Subjects: respondent-driven sampling -- diagonal reference model -- high-skilled migrants -- social status -- well-being -- Hong Kong; Asia -- Emigration and immigration -- Periodicals; Pacific Area -- Emigration and immigration -- Periodicals; Migration, Internal -- Asia -- Periodicals; Migration, Internal -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Emigration and immigration; Migration, Internal; Asia; Pacific Area; Periodicals; 325
• DOI: 10.1177/01171968231173751
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0117-1968

Abstract

We assessed how the high-skilled migrants' statuses in Mainland China and Hong Kong and the discrepancies between the two statuses are related to their well-being outcomes. We used respondent-driven sampling method and obtained an analytical sample of 2, 864 participants. The majority of the high-skilled migrants perceived higher status in Mainland China than in Hong Kong which is more consequential for their health and well-being. Compared to those who perceived similar statuses in the two locations, migrants who perceived different statuses tended to report lower levels of psychological well-being, providing evidence to the detrimental effects of status inconsistency.