Sustainable Intergenerational Contact Patterns and Health Equity: Comparing Migrant and Non-Migrant Older Adults in Europe

Claudia Vogel, Aviad Tur-Sinai () and Harald Künemund
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Claudia Vogel: Department of Social Work and Education, University of Applied Sciences Neubrandenburg, Brodaer Strasse 2, 17033 Neubrandenburg, Germany
Aviad Tur-Sinai: The Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa 3103301, Israel
Harald Künemund: Institute of Gerontology, University of Vechta, Driverstr 22, 49377 Vechta, Germany

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-20

Abstract: Intergenerational contact is a key component of the informal support systems that contribute to the wellbeing of older adults. As societies age and migration patterns diversify family structures, understanding how contact is sustained across generations becomes increasingly relevant for health equity and the sustainability of care systems. In this study, we conceptualise sustainability not in environmental terms but as social and health-system sustainability—that is, the long-term ability of families and care systems to maintain intergenerational ties, ensure equitable access to support, and remain resilient under demographic and social pressures. Drawing on theories of intergenerational solidarity and social capital, this study situates contact as both a resource for individual wellbeing and a pillar of care sustainability in diverse societies. We examine the frequency of contact between parents and adult children among adults aged 50 and above, comparing migrant and non-migrant populations across 25 European countries. Using data from Waves 7, 8, and the COVID-19 wave of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), we assess both in-person and digital forms of contact before and during the pandemic. Results show that older migrants have less frequent contact with parents but more frequent contact with children than do non-migrants, with similar patterns attested across repeated cross-sections (2017, 2019, 2021) . The strong contact observed in each cross-section, facilitated by digital tools, implies resilient family ties under public-health stress. However, resilience is uneven: weaker contact with parents among migrant populations reflects structural barriers such as visa restrictions, caregiving responsibilities, discrimination, language barriers, and unequal digital access. Moreover, differences in access and proficiency with digital tools suggest that digital contact did not compensate equally across groups. These findings underscore the importance of sustainable and inclusive strategies in ageing and health policy. Specifically, targeted digital literacy programmes for older migrants, policies supporting transnational caregiving, affordable internet access, mobility solutions, and anti-discrimination measures in family visitation are crucial to reducing inequities.

Keywords: COVID-19; intergenerational contact; migration; cross-national research; SHARE (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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