STSM on migrants’ self-esteem and religiosity
Dr. Laura Dryjanska from the Istituto Diplomatico Internazionale, Italy, visited the WSB University in Poland during her Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM), funded by the COST Action COREnet.
The topic of Laura’s STSM was the analysis of migrants’ self-esteem and religiosity, in the light of family dynamics in relation to religious traditions and non-religious beliefs. In other words, the research raised a question: is religion and/or spirituality important to migrants? What are some differences depending on self-esteem and family situation? To answer this question, the STSM was dedicated to creating an online questionnaire, using the expertise of the host, Prof. Paulina Polko, and her knowledge of the local context in Poland.
The work on the questionnaire was an example of a multidisciplinary collaboration between a social psychologist and an expert in security. The STSM has also enabled the launch of an online questionnaire and its distribution to international students at WSB University, in collaboration with the International Relations Office and additional organisations. Understanding the role of religion and spirituality in the experiences of migrants, including how they face difficulties, respond to stressful events, and maintain their traditions, can be helpful when offering activities for them or forming expectations related to their involvement. The originality of the project lay in its focus on the religion and spirituality of young people in Poland, a country typically associated with Catholicism.
Given the expertise of Prof. Polko in migration studies and experience in multidisciplinary collaboration, the scientific mission provided insights into the narratives of migration through lenses of religiosity, distinguishing between extrinsic, intrinsic, and quest religiosity, and taking into account the variables of age, with a particular attention to the experiences of emerging adults. The analysis will result in a manuscript ready for publication.
What is a Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) within COREnet?
A Short-Term Scientific Mission, funded by the COST Action COREnet, consists of a visit to a host organization located in a different country to the country of affiliation of a Researcher in order to carry out specific work as part of a research project. In addition to research purposes, Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) are aimed to support researchers’ individual mobility, to strengthen existing networks and to foster collaboration between individuals. The purpose of a STSM is thus to gain new partnerships, to learn new techniques and to gain access to specific data, instruments and/or methods not available in their own institutions/organizations.
