The effect of adult children’s outmigration on the mental health of older parents in Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract

This thesis examines the association between adult children’s migration and depression among older parents in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and explore the role of intergenerational support in contributing to their depression. Data were from the eighth wave of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), pooling a study sample of 11 CEE countries, with a cross-sectional design. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and hierarchical linear regression were conducted using a study sample of 9133 respondents. Older adults whose children migrated over 500 km were more likely to experience depression compared to those with no migrant child or all children within 500 km. Among intergenerational support, frequent parent-child contact mitigated the effects of migration on depression in older parents with all their children who migrated over 500 km. This study concluded that older parents with migrant children over 500km away should be considered a vulnerable population at risk for mental health in CEE countries. The results highlight a crucial policy implication: fostering intergenerational contacts benefits left-behind parents, particularly those whose children have migrated long distances.