Family Cultures in The Context of Migration and Ageing

Abstract

Intergenerational family relations are embedded in family cultures which influence how families regulate their relations over the whole life span with regard to key issues, such as autonomy and relatedness, or support exchange and reciprocity, and which may vary inter- and intraculturally. Migrant families undoubtedly face a special situation as values and expectations from the culture of origin and from the host cultural context might differ. Not much is known yet about how migrant families adapt their family cultures to the host cultural context. The present article will focus on aspects of intergenerational family regulation by taking into account family cultures of migrant compared to non-migrant families in a life span perspective. We will illustrate our theoretical outline by presenting first results from the IRMA-study comparing Luxembourgish and Portuguese immigrant families living in Luxembourg. We focus on issues of family cohesion, enmeshment and normative expectations regarding adult children's support for their ageing parents, by drawing both on quantitative questionnaire as well as qualitative interview data. Implications for the experience of ambivalence and conflicts as well as well-being of family members from both generations will be discussed.

Perceived loneliness and the role of cultural and intergenerational belonging: the case of Portuguese first-generation immigrants in Luxembourg

“…As previously mentioned, the family constitutes an important resource and a refuge for migrants particularly in times of difficulty. Numerous studies have shown a tendency for immigrants to focus strongly on their immediate family in the receiving country (Albert and Barros Coimbra 2017;Baykara-Krumme and Fokkema 2019;Burholt and Dobbs 2014;Genoni and Nauck 2018;Rooyackers et al 2014). However, an 'acculturation gap' might evolve between firstgeneration parents who experience difficulties adjusting to the new living context and their second-generation children who adapt faster to the receiving context (see e.g.…”

“…Immigrant parents originating from more collectivist and family-oriented cultural contexts might find it difficult to reconcile their expectations for social contact with the usual practices and habits in a more individualistically oriented receiving country (Burholt et al 2018 ). This can lead to ambivalences and conflicts in parent–child relationships (Albert and Coimbra 2017 ).…”

Intergenerational Transmission of Cultural Values in Bicultural Families

“…The role of cuisine, arts, and dress in cultural preservation is also supported by Albert and Coimbra (2017), who highlight that tangible expressions of culture, such as food and traditional clothing, serve as powerful symbols of cultural identity (Albert & Coimbra, 2017). Participants in this study echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the significance of family meals, traditional recipes, and cultural attire in maintaining their cultural heritage.…”

“…Traditional ceremonies, language use, cuisine, arts, and dress are prominent avenues through which cultural heritage is preserved. Albert and Coimbra (2017) note that family cultures, especially in the context of migration and aging, rely on these tangible expressions of culture to maintain a sense of continuity. These methods serve as vehicles for imparting values such as respect, familial loyalty, and community solidarity (Albert & Coimbra, 2017).…”

Establishing the psychometric properties of constructs from the conceptual ‘Settlement Services Literacy’ framework and their relationship with migrants’ acculturative stress in Australia

“…The clash between individualist and collectivist cultural orientation affects many aspects of migrant families including family functioning, parent-child relationships [ 14 ], and access to and utilisation of settlement services [ 15 ]. These social and cultural conflicts associated with adapting to a new culture are significant stressors which can be exacerbated by migrants’ language barriers, unfamiliarity with the host countries’ local context, unawareness of the supports that are available to assist with their settlement journey, and limited or no experience navigating complex service and information systems within their home countries [ 16 – 19 ].…”