Historical roots of loneliness and its impact on second-generation immigrants’ health

Elizabeth Casabianca and Matija Kovacic

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2024, vol. 224, issue C, 407-437

Abstract: This paper examines the relationship between historical cultural norms and attitudes towards loneliness, specifically within the context of second-generation immigrants. We uncover an intergenerationally transmitted cultural element that emphasizes restraint and adherence to strict rules characterizing highly-intensive pre-industrial agricultural systems. This cultural dimension significantly impacts how individuals perceive their social relationships and influences their likelihood of experiencing loneliness. Additionally, we demonstrate that the identified cultural trait serves as a predictor of loneliness in a two-stage model for health. Our research shows that loneliness directly impacts body mass index and specific mental health issues, and these findings hold true across a battery of sensitivity checks. The results add to the existing body of research highlighting the importance of attitudes in predicting economic and health outcomes, shedding light on how deeply ingrained geographical, cultural, and individual characteristics can shape economic development processes in both home and host countries.

Keywords: Loneliness; Ancestral characteristics; Social norms; Health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D91 I12 I14 J14 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:224:y:2024:i:c:p:407-437

DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2024.06.011

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