Finding Fulfillment in New Beginnings: Exploring Life Satisfaction among Resettled Bhutanese Older Adults in Ohio

Migration takes many forms, including voluntary relocation, labor migration, and forced displacement, with refugee resettlement representing a distinct pathway shaped by both disruption and adaptation. Resettling in a new country presents both opportunities and challenges, including safety, stability, and access to resources, but it also entails the loss of familiar surroundings, social networks, and cultural connections. Ohio has resettled a large number of Bhutanese refugees, yet previous studies have predominantly focused on their adversities, with limited focus on post-resettlement life satisfaction. This study aims to evaluate the life satisfaction of resettled Bhutanese older adults in Ohio and identify the factors influencing their life satisfaction. Data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey of Bhutanese adults aged 55 and older residing in Columbus, Akron, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. Participants (N = 273) were recruited using snowball sampling through local Bhutanese organizations. Life satisfaction was measured using Diener's five-item Satisfaction with Life Scale. Binary logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with life dissatisfaction. Only about 10% of participants reported dissatisfaction with their lives. Older adults without depression were significantly less likely to report dissatisfaction (aOR: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.03-0.53). Higher resilience (aOR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.87-0.99) and greater social support (aOR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.09-0.95) were also associated with lower odds of dissatisfaction. Despite enduring significant adversity before and during resettlement, a significant proportion of participants reported satisfaction with their lives, with limitations of cross-sectional design and non-probability sampling. Future research should explore their experiences before and after resettlement to better understand how the resettlement process impacts life satisfaction.