Migrant perceptions of psychological home: A scoping review

The country where persons migrate may involve essential aspects for successful settlement and integration. Perceptions of home encompass more than spatial location and may include a sense of belonging, intimacy, and security, which contribute to one’s well-being. Psychological home refers to a feeling of belonging to others, with or without maintaining a specific environmental context; it is a dynamic process, reflective of self-identity. The present scoping review used the PRISMA methodology to evaluate the literature concerning migrants’ psychological perception of their home environment in their country of arrival. Data were drawn from 28 studies and identified characteristics (design, purpose, and main findings) derived from migrants’ psychological perception of home. Results highlighted elements referring to cognitive, affective, and behavioral components, according to a psychological home model. Moving forward, main themes identified that should be explored further and might include migration and acculturation processes; family and community relationships; the material characteristics and symbolic meanings of spaces and objects; and the psychological characteristics of migrants.