Migration of the Health Belief Model (HBM): Effects of Psychosocial and Social Network Characteristics on Emigration Intentions in Five Countries in West Africa and the Mediterranean Region

George Groenewold, Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI)
Bart de Bruijn, Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI)
Richard Bilsborrow, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The effects of psychosocial and social network factors on emigration intentions are examined. Following a review of migration and health theories, it is argued that adaptation of the Health Belief Model (HBM) conceptualization of behavioral intentions, linked to constructs of Social Network Theory, will contribute to a better understanding and prediction of emigration intentions. An analytical model is then developed and tested, using comparable data collected in migration surveys by a multi-country project on international migration from West Africa and Mediterranean region to Europe. Results show that, in addition to social network variables and person and household level control variables, the psychosocial constructs of perceived emigration-risk, perceived barriers and support to emigration, and self-efficacy show significant effects in predicted directions and add to the explanation of emigration intentions. It is recommended that future surveys on (international) migration include questions that adequately measure such psychosocial constructs.