Understanding Food-Related Well-Being in a Diaspora Situation: The Psychological and Social Dimensions

Abstract

Abstract Food and related practices have a substantial impact on the well-being of individuals. When people are forced to migrate, it is unclear how this affects and potentially reshapes their understanding of food-related well-being. By drawing upon 34 semi-structured interviews with Syrian refugees in Stuttgart, Germany, this article presents an in-depth investigation of the psychological and social dimensions of food-related well-being in a diaspora situation. Interview partners express a strong affinity to their past food-related life and a constant comparison between what they are used to and what is currently available to them in the new food environment. Moreover, participants articulate a low autonomy and weak environmental mastery over food choices, which plays out differently according to the stage of displacement. Food is important for building new bridges with the host community and expressing social identities. The insights gained from this research are useful to design strategies to promote the well-being of refugees.