Journal of Population Association of Iran

Journal of Population Association of Iran

From Imagination to Decision: Exploring Students' Perceptions of Migrating Abroad

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 MA in Social Sciences Research, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran
2 Professor, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran
10.22034/jpai.2025.2054885.1401
Abstract
Migration, as a social act, has recently become a mental preoccupation for some students. This study aims to explore how the image of migration is formed in the minds of high school students. The present research is qualitative and uses grounded theory as its methodological framework. The sampling was theoretical and purposive, involving 25 students from the second level of high school in Yazd, Iran, who planned to migrate. These participants were selected in 2024–2025. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed in three phases: open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. The categories identified include economic ideals, perceptions of a desirable life, dreams of labor migration, positive imagery, extensive family support, backing from migrant relatives, visualization of future pathways, and the construction of a migratory identity. According to the findings, the image of migration in students’ minds is shaped by a combination of individual and social factors. Aspirations for better employment and financial prospects, the motivational role of the family, and the support of social networks—including friends and migrant relatives—help construct migration as a favorable path toward welfare and success. In this context, students, by analyzing the opportunities and challenges of migration, consciously develop a migratory identity and strategically organize their personal and social resources to achieve this envisioned future.
Keywords

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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 14 September 2025

  • Receive Date 04 March 2025
  • Revise Date 22 May 2025
  • Accept Date 26 May 2025