Article: Well-being of old natives and immigrants in Europe: does the socio-cultural integration matter? Journal: International Journal of Happiness and Development (IJHD) 2022 Vol.7 No.4 pp.291 - 330 Abstract: The first aim of the study is to explore the determinants of socio-cultural integration and to compare the degree of this integration between natives and immigrants. The second aim is to examine the relationship between socio-cultural integration and the subjective well-being (SWB) of both natives and migrant populations. We use panel data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe across the period 2004-2017 in 29 countries. We apply seemingly unrelated regressions (SURE) to explore the simultaneous relationship between socio-cultural integration and well-being. We consider first and second-generation immigrants and also immigrants from different countries of origin. Our findings suggest that first-generation immigrants are less likely to participate in the socio-cultural activities explored. However, those who are engaged in those activities, participate more frequently than natives. Furthermore, even though immigrants report lower levels of SWB, the latter is significantly enhanced with socio-cultural integration. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Well-being of old natives and immigrants in Europe: does the socio-cultural integration matter?

Authors: Eleftherios Giovanis; Sacit Hadi Akdede

Addresses: Nazilli Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of Public Finance, Adnan Menderes University, Cumhuriyet, 09800, İsabeyli/Nazilli/Aydın, Turkey ' Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of Economics, Izmir Bakircay University, Menemen, İzmir, 35665, Turkey

Abstract: The first aim of the study is to explore the determinants of socio-cultural integration and to compare the degree of this integration between natives and immigrants. The second aim is to examine the relationship between socio-cultural integration and the subjective well-being (SWB) of both natives and migrant populations. We use panel data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe across the period 2004-2017 in 29 countries. We apply seemingly unrelated regressions (SURE) to explore the simultaneous relationship between socio-cultural integration and well-being. We consider first and second-generation immigrants and also immigrants from different countries of origin. Our findings suggest that first-generation immigrants are less likely to participate in the socio-cultural activities explored. However, those who are engaged in those activities, participate more frequently than natives. Furthermore, even though immigrants report lower levels of SWB, the latter is significantly enhanced with socio-cultural integration.

Keywords: cultural and social integration; EURO-D; life satisfaction; international migration; old age; panel data; psychological well-being; religious activities; sports events; the survey of health; ageing and retirement in Europe; voluntary work.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHD.2022.128020

International Journal of Happiness and Development, 2022 Vol.7 No.4, pp.291 - 330

Received: 18 Jun 2021
Accepted: 09 Sep 2021
Published online: 04 Jan 2023 *

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Title: Well-being of old natives and immigrants in Europe: does the socio-cultural integration matter?

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