The Impact of Male International Migration on Marital Dynamics in Rural Nepal

• In Event: 195 - Section on Sociology of Population Paper Session. Immigration, Nativity, and Family Dynamics

Abstract

With more fluid borders and supportive labor polices, individuals are increasingly migrating
abroad in search of more stable employment opportunities. While researchers tend to emphasize
the financial benefits of remittances sent home, the broader social ramifications of such
migration, particularly for families, remain unclear. Using unique panel data and supplemental
mixed methods data with a subsample in rural Nepal, I investigate how the out-migration of
young married men influences spousal relations in a setting experiencing jumps in both
international movement and shifts in social norms. Results suggest that a husband’s migration
affects marital dynamics: Migrants, particularly husbands, report lower frequencies of
disagreement and criticism, and more love for their spouse than individuals in non-migrant
marriages, net of both marital dynamic measures assessed six years prior and key factors
previously identified to influence migration and marriage. This study deepens our understanding
of an increasingly prevalent social phenomenon and informs development work and international
policy targeting the wellbeing of those crossing borders for work and their families back home.

Author

• Ellen Compernolle, University of Michigan