Racial discrimination and life satisfaction in non-Western contexts: examining the moderating role of migration in Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, and Ukraine

Objective: It has been well established that racial discrimination has detrimental consequences for well-being. However, less is known about this relationship in non-Western settings, and there is limited research examining factors that may moderate it. This study investigates the association between perceived racial discrimination and life satisfaction across four non-Western countries, as well as the role of migration as a potential moderator. Design: A total of 3,600 respondents living in Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, and Ukraine participated in an online survey on racial discrimination and its association with life satisfaction. Participants also reported their migration status, including whether they had migrated and the duration of their residence outside their country of origin. Results: We found a negative association between perceived racial discrimination and life satisfaction across the four countries, although the strength of this relationship varied by context. Importantly, we found that years since migration attenuate the negative association between perceived racial discrimination and life satisfaction, potentially reflecting coping strategies and adaptation processes developed over time. Conclusion: While a negative association between perceived racial discrimination and life satisfaction is observed in these non-Western contexts, the strength of this relationship varies across countries and is moderated by individuals’ migration experiences. These findings open new avenues for research on how discrimination and migration jointly shape well-being across diverse national and individual contexts.