Psychological Flexibility and Quality of Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Study of Non-Western Migrants and the Dutch Population

Abstract

Background A growing number of research presents empirical evidence for the negative psychological consequences of the COVID-lockdowns, such as increased stress and decreased quality of life. The effects on minorities, especially migrants with non-western background, could be even more severe than in the native population. Aims To assess the potential long-term effects of the pandemic on the mental health of minority groups, the study examined whether there is a difference in the quality of life (QoL) and the psychological flexibility (PF) during the COVID-19 pandemic between the Dutch and non-western migrant populations. Method An online cross-sectional survey was conducted. 1865 people participated. The questionnaire contained items about COVID-19 mental-health-related problems, QoL (Rand SF-36) and PF (FIT-18). Non-western migrants were expected to report lower QoL than Dutch people. PF was hypothesized to be positively associated with QoL. A moderation effect of migration background was hypothesized for the relationship between PF and QoL. Results No significant difference was found between Dutch and non-western migrants regarding QoL and PF. There was a strong positive correlation between QoL and PF among both populations. The moderation analysis revealed that the relationship between PF and QoL does not significantly differ between Dutch participants and non-western migrants. Conclusions Despite not yielding the expected outcomes, the findings highlight a potentially smaller difference between the Dutch and non-Western migrants than originally thought. However, the diversity within the non-Western migrant group should be considered. Breaking down this sample into smaller, more representative groups could provide better insights into the psychological impacts of the pandemic.