Scientific Presentations
LabTalks@SocialDemography
Department Social Demography
Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR), Rostock, Germany, February 04, 2025
1:00 PM: Talk with Songyun Shi - Exploring the Role of Loneliness in Migration Health Trajectories: A Longitudinal Mediation Analysis in Parallel Process Latent Growth Curve Model
Abstract
Objectives
It is well-documented that, despite having better health upon arrival and during younger ages, immigrants tend to age at a faster pace than non-immigrants over the life course. The mechanisms behind the unhealthy aging of immigrants are numerous, complex, and interconnected. Loneliness is one potential mediator in this relationship. This study examines both the direct impact of migration background on mental and physical health trajectories and its indirect effects through loneliness.
Methods
Using data from the 2013–2020 Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), we applied mediation analysis within a parallel process latent growth curve model (PPM) to examine the long-term impact of migration background on physical and mental health trajectories and explore the mediating role of loneliness in this relationship.
Results
The PPM results indicated that loneliness fully mediated the relationship between migration background and the initial level of mental health (i.e., the intercept of mental health). Specifically, immigrants were more likely to experience loneliness, which led to lower levels of mental health than non-immigrants. This pattern was particularly evident among women.
Discussion
Loneliness mediates the link between migration background and mental health, especially for women. Policies should focus on reducing loneliness among immigrants, and future research should explore additional mechanisms behind their faster health decline.
Authors: Songyun Shi1, Silvia Loi 12, (presenter: Songyun)
1 Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Research Group: Migration and Health Inequalities
2 Max Planck – University of Helsinki Center for Social Inequalities in Population Health
Room 400 and Zoom
Please register via email (office-myrskyla@demogr.mpg.de) for online participation. The Zoom link will be sent to you afterwards.
LabTalk, February, 4th from 1 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (Rostock time)