Agent of Change: How Migration Decision-Making Relates to Post-Migration Well-Being Among Older Adults in Hulhumalé, Maldives

This study explores the association between agency in migration decision-making and post-migration well-being among older residents of Hulhumalé, a planned artificial island city in the Maldives. Face-to-face survey data were collected in 2024 from Maldivian nationals aged 65 years and older who had relocated to Hulhumalé. Based on the reported primary decision-maker, 189 respondents were classified as self-determined or family-led migrants. Life satisfaction before and after migration, post-migration experiences, and perceived living conditions were analyzed using non-parametric tests and multiple regression. The results revealed distinct patterns between the two groups. Current life satisfaction did not differ significantly; however, self-determined migrants reported lower pre-migration satisfaction and a subsequent increase following relocation, whereas family-led migrants reported higher pre-migration satisfaction and little overall change. Statistical significance for non-parametric comparisons was determined using false discovery rate (FDR)-adjusted p -values. In an extended regression model controlling for socio-demographic factors ( N =145), agency in migration decision-making remained significantly associated with changes in life satisfaction. Family-led migrants also reported greater difficulty in social integration and urban adaptation. While these exploratory findings should be interpreted with caution due to a retrospective baseline assessment and missing data for some socioeconomic variables, they suggest that perceived agency is more clearly associated with subjective well-being trajectories and post-migration social adaptation than with current life satisfaction. Supporting meaningful participation in relocation decisions, while addressing the social needs of family-led migrants, may contribute to more inclusive outcomes for the older population in rapidly urbanizing island contexts.