National and transnational family and friendship networks and their role for subjective well-being of older migrants compared to non-migrants in Luxembourg

Creating new bonds in the receiving country constitutes an important developmental task for migrants. Nonetheless, migrants often have smaller social networks in the receiving countries compared to non-migrants, while they stay connected with left behind family members in their countries of origin. The role of transnational ties can thereby be twofold – on the one hand, transnational relations might provide support for migrants from a distance, on the other hand feelings of loneliness might arise when network partners are living far away. The present study is part of the project PAN-VAL on active ageing in Luxembourg, financed by the Ministry of Family and Integration, which focusses on social embeddedness vs. social isolation of migrants and non-migrants living in the multicultural context of Luxembourg. A national sample of N=1000 migrants and non-migrants 50+ living in Luxembourg were asked about their family and friendship networks, their satisfaction with family, friends and life as a whole as well as their feelings of loneliness. Further, N = 20 qualitative interviews with older migrants and non-migrants in four selected municipalities were carried out to explore social networks in more depth. First analyses revealed smaller national family and friendship networks of migrants compared to non-migrants and people with double nationality, whereas migrants reported more transnational bonds. Migrants also reported a lower satisfaction with family and friendship networks compared to non-migrants and people with double nationality, whereas no differences were found between migrants and non-migrants with regard to feelings of loneliness. However, people with double nationality felt less lonely compared to both other groups. Results will be discussed in a life-span perspective, considering the role of national family and friendship networks to create a sense belonging as a fundamental need of human beings

Sense of belonging, social embeddedness and perceived loneliness of older Luxembourgers and non-Luxembourgers in pandemic times

Luxembourg has witnessed a sharp increase in cultural diversity due to high levels of immigration in the past years, and the question of how inhabitants from different cultural origin establish a sense of belonging to their country of residence has become essential for social cohesion and inclusion. The COVID-19 pandemic has, however, shaken patterns of belonging dramatically. The place of residence has gained new meaning due to confinement measures, closed borders and local contact restrictions. Physical distancing could have particularly adverse effects on older migrants with smaller social networks in the receiving country, increasing the risk for loneliness and social isolation. The present study is part of the PAN-VAL project on active ageing funded by the Luxembourgish Family Ministry. We aim to analyze the impact of sense of belonging and social embeddedness on perceived loneliness before and since the COVID-19 crisis of older Luxembourgers and non-Luxembourgers living in the Grand-Duchy. A representative sample of N=1000 residents 50+ participated in a survey via telephone and online in December 2020. The standardized questionnaire included questions regarding national and transnational family and friendship networks, contact frequencies, sense of belonging to place and country of residence and of origin as well as perceived loneliness before and since the COVID-19 pandemic. Preliminary findings indicate that sense of belonging predicted loneliness before and since the corona crisis, whereas a larger social network in Luxembourg was protective against loneliness only before but not since the crisis. Interestingly, a higher contact frequency with friends in Luxembourg reduced loneliness before the crisis, whereas higher contact frequency with friends abroad reduced loneliness since crisis. Results will be discussed considering resources as well as risk factors for loneliness in the context of migration and ageing in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic

Active ageing in the context of cultural diversity in Luxembourg

Ausgangspunkt des PAN-VAL Projekts „Aktives Altern in Luxemburg“, das in enger Zusammenarbeit zwischen der Universität Luxemburg und GERO durchgeführt wurde, war die Frage, inwieweit soziale Aktivitäten und Angebote von einer diversen Population genutzt werden. In der Studie wurden die Bedürfnisse und Erwartungen von Menschen über 50 (Luxemburger*innen und Nicht-Luxemburger*innen) in Bezug auf ihre sozialen Netzwerke, ihr soziales Eingebundensein, ihre Freizeitaktivitäten innerhalb ihrer Gemeinde und ihr Zugehörigkeitsgefühl sowie ihre Zufriedenheit mit verschiedenen Lebensbereichen untersucht. Gleichzeitig zielte die Studie darauf ab, zu ermitteln, welche Faktoren eine Teilnahme begünstigen und was Menschen daran hindert, an öffentlichen Freizeitangeboten teilzunehmen. In der vorliegenden Broschüre werden die wichtigsten Ergebnisse der quantitativen und der qualitativen Teilstudien zusammengeführt sowie im Anschluss daran Hinweise für die Gestaltung von Angeboten gegeben. Hierbei werden Module präsentiert, um ältere Menschen mit Migrationshintergrund besser einzubeziehen und Dienstleistungen für ein aktives Altern einer immer diverseren Zielgruppe zu entwickeln. Die Broschüre richtet sich damit an alle, die sich mit der Gestaltung von Angeboten für soziale Aktivitäten – für Ältere, aber nicht nur – im Kontext kultureller Diversität befassen

The sense of belonging in the context of migration and active ageing: The case of multicultural Luxembourg

Migration is a life-changing transition and the establishment of new bonds in the receiving country constitutes an important developmental task. While feelings of belonging are closely linked to subjective well-being, the feeling of not fitting in might be related to social exclusion and loneliness. Though social isolation is not bound to specific groups and ages, older migrants might be at a particular risk as recent studies suggest. The present study is part of the project PAN-VAL on active ageing in Luxembourg, financed by the Ministry of Family and Integration. Here, we focus on social embeddedness vs. social isolation of migrants and non-migrants living in the multicultural context of Luxembourg. Our aim is to identify facilitators and obstacles to participation in social activities, focusing in particular on the role of "sense of belonging" of older people to their place and country of residence. Applying a mixed-methods design, we will first focus on a national sample of N=1000 migrants and non-migrants 50+ living in Luxembourg who are asked about their family and friendship networks, leisure activities, sense of belonging to different entities (such as their neighborhood, municipality and country of residence) as well as their feelings of social isolation and loneliness. Secondly, we will draw on qualitative interviews in four selected municipalities contrasting active vs. non-active older migrants vs. non-migrants, exploring in more depth their experiences of belonging and social embeddedness. Results will be discussed in a life-span perspective, considering different developmental trajectories to belonging as a fundamental need of human beings

Multicultural conviviality in the context of active ageing in Luxembourg

Luxembourg’s population has not only become more culturally diverse in the past years but is also growing older. Almost 20 per cent of the total population of Luxembourg is over 60 years old, of which one third are non-Luxembourgers. Active ageing can make an important contribution to the quality of life of older people and promote social inclusion, whereas the feeling of not belonging can be a psychological barrier to participation in activities. This was the starting point of the PAN-VAL project on active ageing of Luxembourgers and non-Luxembourgers, which was funded by the Luxembourg Ministry of Family and Integration and carried out in collaboration between a team from the University of Luxembourg and GERO – Kompetenzzenter fir den Alter. A total of N = 1000 people over 50 (51% women, 49% men) participated in a nationally representative online and telephone survey, and a number of n = 39 in-depth qualitative interviews were carried out with participants from four selected municipalities in different parts of the Grand Duchy: Differdange in the south, Mersch in the centre and Ettelbrück and Clervaux in the north. Based on our quantitative data, we will first present a model on the relations between sense of belonging, social inclusion, loneliness and participation in social activities. Drawing on our qualitative interviews, we will further analyze how the participants describe the processes how they developed a sense of belonging to the places they live in through mundane encounters with people from their municipalities and neighborhoods. We will also explore, how older people experience conviviality with regard to the offers for active ageing, focusing in particular on barriers and facilitators for participation in such offers. Policy implications and lessons learnt about how to adapt social offers to the diverse needs of an increasingly heterogeneous target group will be discussed

Active ageing in the context of cultural diversity in Luxembourg

Le point de départ du projet PAN-VAL « Vieillissement actif au Luxembourg », qui a été mené à bien en collaboration étroite avec l’Université du Luxembourg et GERO, était la question de savoir dans quelle mesure les activités sociales et les offres sont utilisées par une population diversifiée. Dans le cadre de cette étude, les besoins et les attentes de personnes de plus de 50 ans (Luxembourgeois(es) et non-Luxembourgeois(es)) ont été étudiés en ce qui concerne leurs réseaux sociaux, leur intégration sociale, leurs activités de loisir au sein de leur communauté et leur sentiment d’appartenance ainsi que leur satisfaction avec divers domaines de la vie. En même temps, l’objectif de l’étude était de déterminer quels facteurs favorisent une participation et ce qui empêche les personnes de participer aux offres de loisirs publiques. Dans la brochure présente ont été réunis les résultats les plus importants des études partielles quantitatives et qualitatives suivis d’indications pour l’organisation d’off res. On y présentera des éléments afin de mieux intégrer les personnes âgées issues de l’immigration et de mettre au point des services pour un vieillissement actif d’un groupe cible toujours plus diversifié. Ainsi, cette brochure s’adresse à tous ceux qui s’occupent de l’organisation d’offres pour des activités sociales – pour personnes âgées, mais pas uniquement – dans le contexte de la diversité culturelle