Quality of life associated with perceived stigma and discrimination among the floating population in Shanghai, China: a qualitative study.
The floating population refers to the large and increasing number of migrants without local household registration status and has become a new demographic phenomenon in China. Most of these migrants move from the rural areas of the central and western parts of China to the eastern and coastal metropolitan areas in pursuit of a better life. The floating population of China was composed of 121 million people in 2000, and this number was expected to increase to 300 million by 2010. Quality of life (QOL) studies of the floating population could provide a critical starting point for recognizing the potential of regions, cities and local communities to improve QOL. This study explored the construct of QOL of the floating population in Shanghai, China. We conducted eight focus groups with 58 members of the floating population (24 males and 34 females) and then performed a qualitative thematic analysis of the interviews. The following five QOL domains were identified from the analysis: personal development, jobs and career, family life, social relationships and social security. The results indicated that stigma and discrimination permeate these life domains and influence the framing of life expectations. Proposals were made for reducing stigma and discrimination against the floating population to improve the QOL of this population.
Wang
Ji-Wei
JW
Department of Preventive and Environmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical andPharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan. wjiwei@yahoo.com
Cui
Zhi-Ting
ZT
Cui
Hong-Wei
HW
Wei
Chang-Nian
CN
Harada
Koichi
K
Minamoto
Keiko
K
Ueda
Kimiyo
K
Ingle
Kapilkumar N
KN
Zhang
Cheng-Gang
CG
Ueda
Atsushi
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011287:Prejudice; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D012931:Social Environment; D012938:Social Perception; D012944:Social Support; D013240:Stereotyping; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult