Intergenerational Solidarity among Migrant Families in Europe

Valeria Bordone, Wittgenstein Centre (IIASA, VID/ÖAW, WU)
Helga A. G. de Valk, Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI) and Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Intergenerational relations are keys throughout the life course and a major mechanism of cultural continuity. Here we study international migrant and non-migrant populations in ten European countries by looking at relationships between elderly parents and their adult children. The Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) is used to compare exchange of support, frequency of contact and living arrangements among those aged 50 and over. Our findings show limited differences between migrants and non-migrants, although non-migrant elderly have more daily contact with at least one child. Moreover, elderly parents of migrant origin more likely have at least one child living in another country, pointing to the importance of transnational family ties in these families. Furthermore, persistent differences in intergenerational relationships across Europe are found irrespective of migrant status; whereas differences between migrants of various origins are found to be very limited.