Internal Migration and the Role of Intergenerational Family Ties and Life Events

Abstract

This article examines how the migration behavior of older parents and adult children might be influenced by the geographical configuration of nonresident family networks and the emergence of "linked" life events. Background: Researchers have long pointed to the importance of intrahousehold family events as triggers for migration, yet few have detailed how choices over whether, when, and where to migrate are formed with reference to significant others outside of the household. Method: Utilizing geocoded register data for Norway, we identified intergenerational family networks comprising older parents (aged 55+) and their nonresident adult children living 20 km or more apart. We recorded the presence and location of various family ties, the occurrence of several life events, and analyzed their

Geographic mobility among older people and their adult children: The role of parents' health issues and family ties

“…reinforces their attracting effects for migration (Pettersson & Malmberg, 2009;Thomas & Dommermuth, 2020). At the same time, living near family members has a strong migration-deterring effect (Ermisch & Mulder, 2019;Hünteler & Mulder, 2020).…”

“…For older people, coresidential partners might deter relocation and the utilisation of institutionalised care (Greene & Monahan, 1987;Larsson & Thorslund, 2002;Van der Pers et al, 2015), because partners are an important resource of help in later life (Messeri, Silverstein, & Litwak, 1993). The presence of dependent children in the adult children's household decreases the likelihood of relocation, but if the dependent children are at the preschool age, the likelihood of migration towards older parents might increase (Thomas & Dommermuth, 2020).…”

“…Therefore, we expect that older people who have other children living nearby will be less likely to move towards their distant child ( Hypothesis 3a ) or become institutionalised ( Hypothesis 3b ) than those who do not have other children living in close proximity. Studies also suggest that having siblings living close to parents form an additional attraction for relocation of their brothers and sisters (Michielin et al, 2008; Pettersson & Malmberg, 2009; Thomas & Dommermuth, 2020). Building on this insight, we hypothesise that having other children nearby will be associated with a higher likelihood of a distant child moving closer ( Hypothesis 3c ).…”

“…On the other hand, distant children with a sibling living nearby might be less likely to move away because that sibling can also be thought of as a form of location‐specific capital. A Norwegian study found a positive relationship between adult children's family ties and the propensity of convergence (Thomas & Dommermuth, 2020). Thus, we hypothesise: older people who have at least two distant children clustered in one location will be more likely to move closer to them ( Hypothesis 4a ) and less likely to have at least one of these distant children moving closer ( Hypothesis 4b ) than those who have a distant child with no siblings living nearby.…”

“…These moves improve family members' opportunities to care for each other (Vergauwen & Mortelmans, 2020). Some studies also suggest that clustering of family members (e.g., other children, siblings, and grandchildren) reinforces their attracting effects for migration (Pettersson & Malmberg, 2009; Thomas & Dommermuth, 2020). At the same time, living near family members has a strong migration‐deterring effect (Ermisch & Mulder, 2019; Hünteler & Mulder, 2020).…”