The number of seniors in Europe is rapidly growing. This increase is even more important when focussing on older migrants. Between 2010 and 2015, non-native people over 55 years increased by 50% in countries like Finland, Portugal and Luxemburg. In this context, issues concerning older migrants’ social inclusion are becoming crucial. Social Capital’s (SC) approach is widely used in social inclusion studies of older people; while it has not been used as much in the literature on migrants’ seniors and future seniors. Furthermore, many studies on this field are conducted at national or regional level, rather than at European level. Finally, operationalization of SC is not standard in sociology. These characteristics make it difficult to compare different studies and to have a global view of the phenomenon in Europe. The aim of this study is to fill these gaps in the literature, showing what kind of SC (bonding or bridging) allows the seniors or aging migrant to maximise their health and well-being. The analysis is conducted separately for migrants from High-Income Countries (HIC) and from Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC). Here I refer to a micro-level SC approach, following the definition of Van der Gaag and Snijder (2004). With the aim of isolating the effect given by the place of birth, a comparison with the native populations is performed. I perform this study at the European level using data from the Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe dataset (wave 6), and I created a measure of individual SC, which covers many of the dimensions identified in the literature (e.g. support, participation, social network). I performed regression models with interaction terms and, in order to check the macro level effects, I clustered countries by the expenditure (Purchasing Power Standard) on social protection of old age function and by Migrant Integration Policies Index (MIPEX). Findings show that those who make up the aging and older population in Europe have social networks composed of, on average, more than two contacts; and the majority of them are members of the family. Furthermore, they are very satisfied with their networks. Participation is rather low, with the exclusion of participation in clubs and other sport organizations. Finally, these aging and older people are more often care givers than people who need support. There are some slight differences among natives and non-natives, almost always in favour of migrants coming from “poor” or developing countries. These results are in line with the “immigrant selectivity theory”. In general, bridging SC is positive for the health and well-being of older people in Europe. Bonding SC, instead, is, in some of part, negative for health. These results confirm the existence of a “dark side” of SC. Finally, macro aspects do shape the relationship between SC, (mental and physical) health, and well-being. Macro aspects result as very important to aken into account, especially when considering older migrants: a favourable environment is essential for them to make full use of the positive aspect of bridging SC.

In Europa il numero di anziani sta rapidamente aumentando. Questo aumento è ancora più consistente se ci si riferisce agli anziani immigrati. Tra il 2010 e il 2015, la presenza di non-nativi di 55 anni e più è aumentata del 50% in Paesi come Finlandia, Portogallo e Lussemburgo. In tale contesto, questioni riguardanti l’inclusione sociale degli anziani immigrati diventano sempre più cruciali. L’approccio del Capitale Sociale (CS) è ampiamente utilizzato negli studi riguardanti l’inclusione sociale. Tuttavia, non è stato altrettanto esplorato nella letteratura sui migranti anziani e futuri anziani. Inoltre, molti studi in questo campo sono condotti a livello nazionale o regionale, piuttosto che a livello europeo. Infine, il CS non possiede un’operativizzazione standard in sociologia o nelle scienze sociali. Queste caratteristiche fanno, della comparazione su questi temi, un’operazione difficile. Colmare queste lacune presenti in letteratura è l’obiettivo di questo studio. Obiettivo generale è quello di mostrare quale tipo di CS (bonding o bridging) consenta al migrante anziano o in fase di invecchiamento di avere una salute migliore ed un più alto livello di benessere. L’analisi è condotta separatamente per migranti provenienti da Paesi ad alto reddito (HIC) e per migranti provenienti da Paesi a medio e basso reddito (LMIC). In questo studio faccio riferimento ad un approccio micro al CS, seguendo la definizione di Van der Gaag and Snijder (2004). Con l’obiettivo di isolare l’effetto del luogo di provenienza, ho incluso nelle analisi anche i nativi anziani e futuri anziani. Lo studio è stato svolto a livello europeo, usando i dati della Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe (wave 6). Ho creato una misura di CS individuale che copre molte delle dimensioni identificate in letteratura (supporto, partecipazione, social network). Ho inserito termini di interazione all’interno dei miei modelli di regressione, in modo da tenere sotto controllo le differenze tra nativi e non nativi. E, con lo scopo di tenere in considerazione l’aspetto macro, ho raggruppato i Paesi a seconda della spesa per la protezione sociale degli anziani e a seconda dell’indice MIPEX (Migrant Integration Policies Index). I risultati mostrano come la popolazione anziana e in fase di invecchiamento in Europa possiede, in media, più di due contatti all’interno del proprio social network; e questi contatti sono in maggioranza famigliari. Inoltre, tale popolazione risulta essere molto soddisfatta del proprio network di contatti. La partecipazione ad attività sociali risulta essere piuttosto bassa, con l’esclusione della partecipazione ad attività di club o in organizzazioni sportive. Infine, anziani e futuri anziani sono più spesso care giver, piuttosto che persone che necessitano aiuto. Alcune piccole differenze tra nativi e non nativi sono presenti, e sono quasi sempre in favore dei migranti provenienti da LMIC. Questo vantaggio può essere spiegato attraverso la immigrant selectivity theory. In generale, il CS bridging risulta essere positivo per la salute e il benessere della popolazione anziana europea. Il CS bonding, invece, è, in alcune delle sue dimensioni, negativo per la salute. Questi risultati confermano l’esistenza di un “lato oscuro” del CS. Infine, l’aspetto macro interviene nella relazione presente tra CS, salute (fisica e mentale) e benessere. L’aspetto macro risulta essere un fattore fondamentale da tenere in considerazione, soprattutto quando si ha a che fare con la popolazione anziana immigrata. Un contesto favorevole, infatti, è essenziale per tale popolazione per poter usufruire appieno degli aspetti positivi del CS bridging.

(2020). OLDER PEOPLE, SOCIAL CAPITAL, AND HEALTH IN EUROPE: A QUANTITATIVE STUDY WITH SHARE DATA. (Tesi di dottorato, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, 2020).

OLDER PEOPLE, SOCIAL CAPITAL, AND HEALTH IN EUROPE: A QUANTITATIVE STUDY WITH SHARE DATA

BOERIO, PRYANKA
2020

Abstract

The number of seniors in Europe is rapidly growing. This increase is even more important when focussing on older migrants. Between 2010 and 2015, non-native people over 55 years increased by 50% in countries like Finland, Portugal and Luxemburg. In this context, issues concerning older migrants’ social inclusion are becoming crucial. Social Capital’s (SC) approach is widely used in social inclusion studies of older people; while it has not been used as much in the literature on migrants’ seniors and future seniors. Furthermore, many studies on this field are conducted at national or regional level, rather than at European level. Finally, operationalization of SC is not standard in sociology. These characteristics make it difficult to compare different studies and to have a global view of the phenomenon in Europe. The aim of this study is to fill these gaps in the literature, showing what kind of SC (bonding or bridging) allows the seniors or aging migrant to maximise their health and well-being. The analysis is conducted separately for migrants from High-Income Countries (HIC) and from Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC). Here I refer to a micro-level SC approach, following the definition of Van der Gaag and Snijder (2004). With the aim of isolating the effect given by the place of birth, a comparison with the native populations is performed. I perform this study at the European level using data from the Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe dataset (wave 6), and I created a measure of individual SC, which covers many of the dimensions identified in the literature (e.g. support, participation, social network). I performed regression models with interaction terms and, in order to check the macro level effects, I clustered countries by the expenditure (Purchasing Power Standard) on social protection of old age function and by Migrant Integration Policies Index (MIPEX). Findings show that those who make up the aging and older population in Europe have social networks composed of, on average, more than two contacts; and the majority of them are members of the family. Furthermore, they are very satisfied with their networks. Participation is rather low, with the exclusion of participation in clubs and other sport organizations. Finally, these aging and older people are more often care givers than people who need support. There are some slight differences among natives and non-natives, almost always in favour of migrants coming from “poor” or developing countries. These results are in line with the “immigrant selectivity theory”. In general, bridging SC is positive for the health and well-being of older people in Europe. Bonding SC, instead, is, in some of part, negative for health. These results confirm the existence of a “dark side” of SC. Finally, macro aspects do shape the relationship between SC, (mental and physical) health, and well-being. Macro aspects result as very important to aken into account, especially when considering older migrants: a favourable environment is essential for them to make full use of the positive aspect of bridging SC.
SALA, EMANUELA MARIA
Anziani; Capitale sociale; Salute; Benessere; Immigrazione
Older people; Social capital; Health; Well-being; Immigrazione
SPS/07 - SOCIOLOGIA GENERALE
English
25-mar-2020
SOCIOLOGIA APPLICATA E METODOLOGIA DELLA RICERCA SOCIALE
32
2018/2019
open
(2020). OLDER PEOPLE, SOCIAL CAPITAL, AND HEALTH IN EUROPE: A QUANTITATIVE STUDY WITH SHARE DATA. (Tesi di dottorato, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, 2020).
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/277251
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