Thesis
The construction of well-being and social capital among Nicaraguans in Costa Rica: an anthropological perspective
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2009
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/102221
Abstract
Well-being remains relatively unexplored anthropologically. Models of wellbeing by researchers in other disciplines fit poorly outside of Western society. This thesis contributes to the development of a working cultural model of well-being for a transnational population in Central America. Based on three months of field research undertaken in 2008, this thesis explores how Nicaraguan laborers in Northwestern Costa Rica subjectively conceptualize well-being in their lives. Social Capital is found to contribute to general psychological wellness, especially in displaced populations. This thesis uses the concept of social capital to express how Nicaraguan laborers in Costa Rica use social relationships in their everyday lives. Consequently, how Nicaraguans access, establish and use social capital plays an active role in the construction of their well-being. This research supports that social capital, coupled with socioeconomic circumstances, is integral to the construction and maintenance of well-being concepts in this population.
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Details
- Title
- The construction of well-being and social capital among Nicaraguans in Costa Rica
- Creators
- Melissa Yumi Artstein
- Contributors
- Marsha B. Quinlan (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Anthropology, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; Pullman, Wash. :
- Identifiers
- 99900525370701842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis