Work

199 The social network characteristics of Filipino and Indonesian female migrant domestic workers in Macao, China

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: EP1.5, e-Poster Terminal 1, September 5, 2025, 13:05 - 13:40 Aim International labor migrants are often separated from their family and at-home support networks while working abroad, which may leave them vulnerable to social isolation and poor health. Studies have assessed how access to social support is helpful for international migrants’ well-being but there is currently a lack of research that investigates the structure of migrant social networks. This study aims to quantify and describe the social networks of Filipino and Indonesian migrant domestic workers (MDWs) working in Macao SAR, China. Methods Using respondent driven sampling, this study enrolled 1,683 MDWs (egos; Filipino n = 1330; Indonesian n = 353) from November 2016 to August 2017. Egos completed a survey about their background characteristics and an egocentric social network approach using name-generating questions of important role members in their life quantified network size (9,271 total alters: Filipino n = 7,974; Indonesian n = 1,297). Egos responded to questions related to alter relationship type, ego-alter interactions, and demographic information. Chi-square and ANOVA tests compared network differences. Results Filipino egos reported larger networks (mean = 6.0; SD = 3.7) compared with Indonesians (mean = 3.7; SD = 2.5). Filipino egos reported higher rates of feeling close or very close to alters (63.7% vs. 47.3%) and more often believed alters would provide financial support if needed (64.9% vs. 31.7%). Filipinos also reported greater reciprocity in listening to alters’ problems (85.9% vs. 46.6%). Conclusions Filipino and Indonesian MDWs’ social networks were homogenous with essentially no interaction across nationalities or the local host community. Indonesian MDWs had smaller networks, weaker ties, and less perceived support, highlighting key population differences and challenging the notion that MDWs are a monolithic community.

Source: European Journal of Public Health

DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckaf180.339