Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40474249›Full record

ReviewGlobalization and health2025

Involuntary immobility and well-being: a scoping review of existing literature and future research directions.

Lise Vanden Hautte, Charlotte Scheerens, Ilse Ruyssen, Sorana Toma

Abstract readScoping ReviewReview
In one paragraph

Review in Globalization and health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Lise Vanden HautteDepartment of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Campus UZ Ghent, Entrance 42, 6th Floor, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.
Charlotte ScheerensDepartment of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Campus UZ Ghent, Entrance 42, 6th Floor, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.
Ilse RuyssenUnited Nations University-CRIS, Bruges, Belgium.
Sorana TomaDepartment of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Campus UZ Ghent, Entrance 42, 6th Floor, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, Ghent, 9000, Belgium. sorana.toma@ugent.be.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHuman migration has gained prominence in recent decades, paralleled by a surge in research attention predominantly centered on mobility, overshadowing the more prevalent phenomenon of immobility. However, a substantial proportion of individuals aspire to migrate, yet find themselves bound by various constraints, far outnumbering those who realize their migration aspirations. The disparity between individuals’ migration aspirations and their actual ability to migrate highlights the limitations faced by many. This involuntary immobility is anticipated to have adverse effects on the well-being of a sizable population. Therefore, we aim to scope the existing literature to assess potential impact of involuntary immobility on individuals’ well-being and mental health. We hypothesize that involuntary immobility exerts a detrimental effect on well-being and mental health and posit that there is currently limited research in this area. This study aims to fill this research void, while also identifying avenues for future research and policy exploration.

methodsA search of the Web of Science, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar databases was conducted, resulting in 1,096 relevant hits. After applying inclusion criteria, 13 articles were deemed pertinent. A thematic analysis was applied to analyze the articles and synthesize the results.

resultsFindings demonstrate the adverse effect of involuntary immobility on an individual’s well-being, often described as distressing feelings like despair and hopelessness. Some articles report mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and trauma, and acknowledge the contextual nuances that influence the perception of these experiences. Furthermore, several articles focus on the intersectionality of various vulnerable populations. All articles consistently emphasize the need for a deeper understanding of this topic providing suggestions for future research as well as policy recommendations.

conclusionThis scoping review reveals a clear research gap in assessing the impact of involuntary immobility on well-being and calls for development of more targeted policies to support individuals affected by involuntary immobility.

Indexed as

Emigration and ImmigrationMental HealthHumansPsychological Well-BeingInvoluntary immobilityMigration aspirationsScoping reviewWell-being

Identifiers

PMID40474249
PMCPMC12142840

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.