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Perceived loneliness and the role of cultural and intergenerational belonging: the case of Portuguese first-generation immigrants in Luxembourg

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  • Isabelle Albert

    (University of Luxembourg)

Abstract

The risk of loneliness for migrants, particularly in older age, has been documented across multiple studies. Migration is a life-changing transition. While often retaining links to their country of origin, an important developmental task for migrants is the establishment of bonds in the receiving country. Drawing on recent studies, I will explore the role of cultural and intergenerational belonging in order to identify both protective and risk factors regarding loneliness in middle and older age in a sample of first-generation immigrants from Portugal living in Luxembourg. The sample comprises N = 131 participants (51.9% female) between the ages of 41 and 80 (M = 56.08; SD = 7.80) who have on average spent M = 31.71 years (SD = 8.81) in Luxembourg and raised children in Luxembourg. They took part in the IRMA project (‘Intergenerational Relations in the Light of Migration and Ageing’) which was funded by the Fonds National de la Recherche Luxembourg. A standardised questionnaire assessed socio-demographic data, aspects of cultural belonging (i.e. cultural attachment to both countries, bicultural identity orientation, acculturative stress), intergenerational belonging (i.e. family cohesion, family conflict, perceived intergenerational value consensus) and perceived loneliness. Results showed that while cultural and intergenerational belonging were protective factors, the strongest predictors for participants’ perceived loneliness were cultural identity conflict and, even more so, intergenerational conflict. Our findings suggest that establishing roots and bonds in the host country is a protective factor against loneliness, whereas the feeling of not fitting in is a strong risk factor.

Suggested Citation

  • Isabelle Albert, 2021. "Perceived loneliness and the role of cultural and intergenerational belonging: the case of Portuguese first-generation immigrants in Luxembourg," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 299-310, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eujoag:v:18:y:2021:i:3:d:10.1007_s10433-021-00617-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s10433-021-00617-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Karin Amit & Shirly Bar-Lev, 2015. "Immigrants’ Sense of Belonging to the Host Country: The Role of Life Satisfaction, Language Proficiency, and Religious Motives," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 124(3), pages 947-961, December.
    2. Valeria Bordone & Helga A. G. Valk, 2016. "Intergenerational support among migrant families in Europe," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 13(3), pages 259-270, September.
    3. Jolien Klok & Theo G. Tilburg & Bianca Suanet & Tineke Fokkema & Martijn Huisman, 2017. "National and transnational belonging among Turkish and Moroccan older migrants in the Netherlands: protective against loneliness?," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 341-351, December.
    4. Vanessa Burholt & Bethan Winter & Marja Aartsen & Costas Constantinou & Lena Dahlberg & Villar Feliciano & Jenny Jong Gierveld & Sofie Regenmortel & Charles Waldegrave, 2020. "A critical review and development of a conceptual model of exclusion from social relations for older people," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 3-19, March.
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    3. Elizabeth Casabianca & Matija Kovacic, 2022. "Loneliness and health among the elderly.The role of cultural heritage and relationship quality," Working Papers 2022:01, Department of Economics, University of Venice "Ca' Foscari".
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    5. Tineke Fokkema & Ruxandra Oana Ciobanu, 2021. "Older migrants and loneliness: scanning the field and looking forward," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 291-297, September.
    6. Rowan L. F. ten Kate & Başak Bilecen & Nardi Steverink, 2021. "The Role of Parent‐Child Relationships and Filial Expectations in Loneliness Among Older Turkish Migrants," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(4), pages 291-303.

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