The scale of transnational family separation: Evidence from the United Kingdom

Background: Transnational separation is a reality for many families in and from high-emigration countries. Studies on this phenomenon have typically focused on non-migrant populations in high-emigration countries, and only relatively recently has research in destination countries, especially in Europe, started looking at its consequences for the migrant population. However, studies have mostly been based on relatively small, non-representative samples of specific origin groups, and do not estimate the scale of the phenomenon in the general immigrant population. Objective: In this study I attempt for the first time to assess the size of the phenomenon of transnational separation from a parent in the immigrant population in a major European destination country, the United Kingdom. Methods: I use data from Understanding Society, using the available information on year of first immigration of respondents and their parents to assess childhood experiences of transnational separation from a parent in the adult immigrant population. Results: I find that at least half of the individuals who immigrated during childhood were transnationally separated from one or both parents in the migration process. However, these estimates rely on information collected for different purposes, leading to high missingness and a likely underestimation of the size of the phenomenon. Conclusions: The results show that transnational separation from a parent is very common, pointing at the need to include low-difficulty questions on different forms of transnational separation in surveys, and to study the short- and long-term consequences of experiences of transnational separation. Contribution: This study offers the first empirical assessment of the scale of transnational separation from a parent during childhood among adult immigrants in a major European destination country. The findings highlight the need to incorporate direct measures of this phenomenon in surveys and to investigate its long-term consequences.