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Mental Health of Ageing Migrants and Non-Migrants in Europe

Bader, Naomi L. (2023) Mental Health of Ageing Migrants and Non-Migrants in Europe. Master thesis.

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Abstract

Intersections of migration and population ageing lead to increasing numbers of elderly migrants in European countries. Theoretical considerations about age- and migrant-specific strains, as well as empirical evidence, suggest that older migrants are particularly at risk for depression. This work aims to quantify the depression gap between older migrants and non- migrants and study explanations based on the Healthy Immigrant Effect and Migrant Mor- tality Advantage frameworks and the Life Course Approach. For this, several waves of the Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe, mainly wave 1 (2004) and wave 6 (2015), were analysed as repeated cross-sections using prevalence and logistic regression mediation techniques. Results confirm a robust association of physical health, marital status, occupation status, and social participation with depression, which explains part of migrants’ depression disadvantage. In addition, this work explores the role of parents and grandchildren as well as the subjective assessments of one’s age and financial resources for depression. Results suggest that subjective evaluations are essential explanations for the depression gap between older migrants and non-migrants. The role of family members, such as parents and grandchildren, remains inconclusive. Overall, the additional factors included increased the explained share of migrants’ depression disadvantage. Scientists seeking to explain the migration-specific mental health inequality should continue studying underlying pathways in further detail, with attention to gendered patterns. Policymakers aiming to reduce older migrants’ depression disadvantage should focus on social and economic inclusion.

Item Type: Thesis (Master)
Degree programme: Population Studies
Supervisor: Remund, A.P.P.
Date Deposited: 29 Nov 2023 10:42
Last Modified: 29 Nov 2023 10:42
URI: https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4425

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