Elevated mortality among the second-generation (children of migrants) in Europe: what is going wrong? A review

Wallace, Matthew; Hiam, Lucinda; Aldridge, Robert

Abstract

Introduction

The ‘second-generation’ (i.e. the children of migrants) represent one of the fastest growing subpopulations of the child and young adult populations in Europe today. The research so far appears to indicate that their mortality risk is elevated relative to people with non-migrant backgrounds.
Sources of data

Peer-reviewed publications.
Areas of agreement

Second-generation status is a clear marker of elevated mortality risk in Europe in early life (including stillbirth, perinatal, neonatal and infant mortality) and adulthood, particularly if the parent(s) were born outside of Europe. Socioeconomic inequality plays an important, albeit rarely defining, role in these elevated risks.
Areas of controversy

It remains unclear what causes-of-death are driving these elevated mortality risks. The exact influence of (non-socioeconomic) explanatory factors (e.g. health care, racism & discrimination, and factors related to integration) on the elevated mortality risks of the second-generation also remains unclear.
Growing points

The second-generation will continue to grow and diversify in Europe; we must intervene to address these inequalities now.
Areas timely for developing research

Place more emphasis on the complexity of migration background, specific causes-of-death, and understanding the roles of explanatory factors beyond socioeconomic background.

Citation

Wallace, M., Hiam, L., & Aldridge, R. (2023). Elevated mortality among the second-generation (children of migrants) in Europe: what is going wrong? A review. British Medical Bulletin, 148(1), 5-21. https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldad027

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 30, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Nov 1, 2023
• Publication Date: Dec 11, 2023
• Deposit Date: Aug 21, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 12, 2024
• Journal: British Medical Bulletin
• Print ISSN: 0007-1420
• Electronic ISSN: 1471-8391
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 148
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 5-21
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldad027