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Minority or migrant? loneliness among older immigrants in England

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  • Luthra, Renee Reichl
  • Brunori, Claudia
  • Ferrara, Alessandro

Abstract

Using recently available, nationally representative data on loneliness among older individuals in England, we ask: do the foreign born and their children have higher levels of loneliness than otherwise similar individuals without a migration background, and how are differences in loneliness related to both minority and immigrant experiences? In contrast to theoretical predictions, we do not find higher loneliness among the foreign born and their descendants as compared to the white British majority. However we do find that a minoritised social position, in particular exposure to discrimination, is associated with greater loneliness among those with a migration background. Immigrants who arrived later in the life course, and originated from outside the EU, are also lonelier in older age than those born in the UK or who arrived at younger ages.

Suggested Citation

  • Luthra, Renee Reichl & Brunori, Claudia & Ferrara, Alessandro, 2025. "Minority or migrant? loneliness among older immigrants in England," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, issue Latest Ar, pages 1-30.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:espost:334419
    DOI: 10.1080/1369183X.2025.2579179
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wallace, Matthew & Kulu, Hill, 2014. "Low immigrant mortality in England and Wales: A data artefact?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 100-109.
    2. Steven Kennedy & Michael P. Kidd & James Ted McDonald & Nicholas Biddle, 2015. "The Healthy Immigrant Effect: Patterns and Evidence from Four Countries," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 16(2), pages 317-332, May.
    3. Mathieu Ichou & Matthew Wallace, 2019. "The Healthy Immigrant Effect: The role of educational selectivity in the good health of migrants," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 40(4), pages 61-94.
    4. Christina R. Victor & Christine Dobbs & Kenneth Gilhooly & Vanessa Burholt, 2021. "Loneliness in mid-life and older adults from ethnic minority communities in England and Wales: measure validation and prevalence estimates," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 5-16, March.
    5. Katrijn Delaruelle, 2023. "Migration-related inequalities in loneliness across age groups: a cross-national comparative study in Europe," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 1-17, December.
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