Well-being, Aspiration, and Precarity Among Young Internal Migrants in Urban India: Insights from Participatory Action Research
1
School of Human Ecology, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumabai, India
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2625
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Well-being of young internal migrants from marginalised backgrounds in urban India is shaped by the intersection of migration, emerging adulthood, and structural and gendered marginalisation, producing both vulnerability and opportunity. Despite growing research on internal migration and mental health, young internal migrants remain underrepresented, with most studies relying on quantitative approaches. This study explored young migrants’ migration journeys, perceived barriers and supports, impacts on well-being, and collective actions to enhance well-being using Participatory Action Research (PAR).
METHODS:
A PAR study was conducted with 9 young internal migrants (aged 18-26 years; 4 women, 5 men) in urban India, as part of the Global Health project on Migration, Gender-Based Violence, and Mental Health (GEMMS). Seven participatory sessions were held at an NGO-run community library, employing arts-based approaches and Photovoice exploring migration journeys, assets and barriers across ecological levels, and co-creating actions to enhance well-being. Data included group discussions, visual outputs, facilitator notes, and reflections, all analysed thematically.
RESULTS:
Participants were unmarried, first-generation learners who migrated to Mumbai 5-10 years ago and were preparing for government recruitment or vocational examinations. They described well-being as shaped by evolving migration experiences- from health- or family-driven moves to aspiration-led pursuits- and pressure to demonstrate success. They contrasted the emotional calm and social support of village life with urban opportunities marked by stress, responsibility, and family separation. Gendered expectations shaped well-being: women navigated education, care, and safety concerns, while men balanced breadwinning pressures with educational goals. Key assets included perseverance, self-belief, and family relationships. Institutional resources were constrained by documentation and affordability barriers, while community libraries, hospitals, and public transport supported learning and mobility.
CONCLUSIONS:
Young internal migrants’ well-being is shaped by structural barriers, expectations, and a sense of agency. PAR fostered reflection, peer connection, and youth-led action, underscoring the value of community-based, youth-friendly, non-clinical approaches.
Well-being of young internal migrants from marginalised backgrounds in urban India is shaped by the intersection of migration, emerging adulthood, and structural and gendered marginalisation, producing both vulnerability and opportunity. Despite growing research on internal migration and mental health, young internal migrants remain underrepresented, with most studies relying on quantitative approaches. This study explored young migrants’ migration journeys, perceived barriers and supports, impacts on well-being, and collective actions to enhance well-being using Participatory Action Research (PAR).
METHODS:
A PAR study was conducted with 9 young internal migrants (aged 18-26 years; 4 women, 5 men) in urban India, as part of the Global Health project on Migration, Gender-Based Violence, and Mental Health (GEMMS). Seven participatory sessions were held at an NGO-run community library, employing arts-based approaches and Photovoice exploring migration journeys, assets and barriers across ecological levels, and co-creating actions to enhance well-being. Data included group discussions, visual outputs, facilitator notes, and reflections, all analysed thematically.
RESULTS:
Participants were unmarried, first-generation learners who migrated to Mumbai 5-10 years ago and were preparing for government recruitment or vocational examinations. They described well-being as shaped by evolving migration experiences- from health- or family-driven moves to aspiration-led pursuits- and pressure to demonstrate success. They contrasted the emotional calm and social support of village life with urban opportunities marked by stress, responsibility, and family separation. Gendered expectations shaped well-being: women navigated education, care, and safety concerns, while men balanced breadwinning pressures with educational goals. Key assets included perseverance, self-belief, and family relationships. Institutional resources were constrained by documentation and affordability barriers, while community libraries, hospitals, and public transport supported learning and mobility.
CONCLUSIONS:
Young internal migrants’ well-being is shaped by structural barriers, expectations, and a sense of agency. PAR fostered reflection, peer connection, and youth-led action, underscoring the value of community-based, youth-friendly, non-clinical approaches.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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