Neighbourhood Ethnic Density, Local Language Skills, and Loneliness among Older Migrants—A Population-Based Study on Russian Speakers in Finland

Abstract

So far, little attention has been paid to contextual factors shaping loneliness and their interaction with individual characteristics. Moreover, the few existing studies have not included older migrants, identified as a group who are vulnerable to loneliness. This study examined the association between neighbourhood ethnic density (the proportion of own-group residents and the proportion of other ethnic residents in an area) and loneliness among older migrants. Furthermore, we investigated whether local language skills moderated this association. A population-based representative survey (The CHARM study, n = 1082, 57% men, mean age 63.2 years) and postal code area statistics were used to study Russian-speaking migrants aged 50 or older in Finland. The study design and data are hierarchical, with individuals nested in postcode areas. We accounted for this by estimating corresponding mixed models. We used a linear outcome specification and conducted logistic and ordinal robustness checks. After controlling for covariates, we found that ethnic density variables (measured as the proportion of Russian speakers and the proportion of other foreign speakers) were not associated with loneliness. Our interaction results showed that increased own-group ethnic density was associated with a higher level of loneliness among those with good local language skills but not among those with weaker skills. Good local language skills may indicate a stronger orientation towards the mainstream destination society and living in a neighbourhood with a higher concentration of own-language speakers may feel alienating for those who wish to be more included in mainstream society.

Migration-related inequalities in loneliness across age groups: A cross-national comparative study in Europe

“…(Tseng et al 2021; Almeida et al 2009). However, a recent study has challenged this assumption (Kemppainen et al 2023).…”

“…People with a migration background are often considered to be more vulnerable to loneliness due to a range of migrant-speci c risk factors, including limited pro ciency in the host country's language, experiences of discrimination, a weak sense of belonging to the destination country, and cultural con icts (Kemppainen et al 2023;Ten Kate et al 2020). Some researchers have posited that immigrants' heightened vulnerability to loneliness can be counteracted by their tendency to reside in ethnically dense areas.…”

Migration-related inequalities in loneliness across age groups: a cross-national comparative study in Europe

“…People with a migration background are often considered to be more vulnerable to loneliness due to a range of migrant-specific risk factors, including limited proficiency in the host country's language, experiences of discrimination, a weak sense of belonging to the destination country, and cultural conflicts (Kemppainen et al 2023 ; Ten Kate et al 2020 ). Some researchers have posited that immigrants' heightened vulnerability to loneliness can be counteracted by their tendency to reside in ethnically dense areas.…”

“…(Tseng et al 2021 ; Almeida et al 2009 ). However, a recent study has challenged this assumption (Kemppainen et al 2023 ).…”

Unveiling the missing pieces: Addressing research gaps in tackling loneliness among older migrants

“…Second, while existing research has shed light on individual‐level factors that contribute to older migrants' loneliness (see above), the impact of the environmental (meso) and societal (macro) context has hardly been investigated (Kemppainen et al., 2023). That is a major omission, as loneliness is not solely an individual challenge but also a collective responsibility.…”