Understanding Subjective Well-Being Among Afghan Refugees and Religious Minorities in Balochistan

Abstract

The study explored subjective well-being in Afghan migrants and religious minorities residing in Balochistan. In Positive psychology, subjective well-being is a dimension of flourishing individuals. Exploring it in Pakistani Afghan community and religious minorities is of more value in the context of their experiences of political marginalization, social exclusion, and legal insecurity. The study focused on three core dimensions of subjective well-being: a. Satisfaction with life, b. frequent experience of positive affect, and c. infrequent experience of negative affect. Level of the three aspects of subjective well-being was assessed. However the primary goal of the current research was to identify these psychological outcomes varied by gender, religious identity, and national affiliation in these two populations. The study was part of pilot testing of MPhil research work. It was cross-sectional survey with comparative research design. Data was collected on self-report measures of Satisfaction with Life (SWL) and Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE). Results showed statistically no prominent variance amongst components of subjective well-being in males and females. However, notable distinction was observed amongst Muslims and those who are not Muslims, as non-Muslims reported higher satisfaction towards life meanwhile with presence of negative affect; though there was no significant difference in positive affect. Significant differences were found between Afghan and Pakistani participants in satisfaction towards life and negative emotion. Pakistanis reported higher contentment in life comparable to Afghans. Pessimism was significantly higher among Pakistanis than Afghans.  Major dissimilarity was not seen in positive affect. These findings support theoretical frameworks such as Minority Stress Theory and Conservation of Resources Theory, emphasizing the interplay between structural disadvantage, emotional complexity, and adaptive functioning.