Seasonal migration and youth social life in the Eastern Barienou district, Benin

This study investigated the relationship that exists between seasonal migration and social life of youth in the Eastern Barienou, Benin. Several young people from the Barienou district in the northern Benin leave their homes each year to work in Nigeria’s agricultural sector. Migration is a strategy employed to improve their standard of living. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of seasonal migration on social life of youth in the Eastern Barienou. This study employed a mixed-method research design that combines a correlation survey and a phenomenological study. The population of the study included 450 people. The sampling frame included not only a list of youth in the Eastern Barienou district but also a list youth’s parents and youth’s leaders. A total of 196 participants were sampled using stratified sampling techniques. Data were collected using a questionnaire, an interview guide and a focus group discussion guide. A multivariate regression analysis was run to assess the association between seasonal migration and social life. Seasonal migration has a significant negative relationship with youth social life (β=.-39, p<.001). QDA miner lite V3.0.6 was used for qualitative data analysis, SPSS 21 for descriptive analysis, and SPSS AMOS 26 for multivariate regression analysis. The study recommended that the Benin government enhance farming sector in the Eastern Barienou district and collaborate with the Nigerian government to improve working conditions for seasonal migrants.