A Closer Look at Loneliness: Why Do First-Generation Migrants Feel More Lonely Than Their Native Dutch Counterparts?

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Along with the current aging demographics in the Netherlands, the number of older first-generation migrants is also increasing. Despite studies suggesting a higher quantity of social contacts of migrants, loneliness is more common among migrants as compared to native Dutch. We theorize that migrants experience more emotional and social loneliness due to a lower satisfaction with social relationships and lower participation in social activities, respectively, compared to their native counterparts. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS:We use data from Statistics Netherlands (N = 7,920) with first-generation migrants aged 40 years and older and their Dutch counterparts. Contact frequency, household composition, satisfaction with social relationships, relationship quality with

SUBMITTER: Ten Kate RLF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7039375 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature