The sense of belonging in the context of migration and active ageing: The case of multicultural Luxembourg

Migration is a life-changing transition and the establishment of new bonds in the receiving country constitutes an important developmental task. While feelings of belonging are closely linked to subjective well-being, the feeling of not fitting in might be related to social exclusion and loneliness. Though social isolation is not bound to specific groups and ages, older migrants might be at a particular risk as recent studies suggest.
The present study is part of the project PAN-VAL on active ageing in Luxembourg, financed by the Ministry of Family and Integration. Here, we focus on social embeddedness vs. social isolation of migrants and non-migrants living in the multicultural context of Luxembourg. Our aim is to identify facilitators and obstacles to participation in social activities, focusing in particular on the role of "sense of belonging" of older people to their place and country of residence.
Applying a mixed-methods design, we will first focus on a national sample of N=1000 migrants and non-migrants 50+ living in Luxembourg who are asked about their family and friendship networks, leisure activities, sense of belonging to different entities (such as their neighborhood, municipality and country of residence) as well as their feelings of social isolation and loneliness. Secondly, we will draw on qualitative interviews in four selected municipalities contrasting active vs. non-active older migrants vs. non-migrants, exploring in more depth their experiences of belonging and social embeddedness.
Results will be discussed in a life-span perspective, considering different developmental trajectories to belonging as a fundamental need of human beings.