Migrant youth mobility in Europe: patterns, processes and consequences

Project Information

MYMOVE

Grant agreement ID: 819298

DOI

10.3030/819298

Project closed

EC signature date 18 February 2019

Start date 1 July 2019

End date 30 June 2024

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

€ 1 995 625,00

EU contribution

€ 1 995 625,00

Coordinated by

KONINKLIJKE NEDERLANDSE AKADEMIE VAN WETENSCHAPPEN - KNAW
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 4 - MYMOVE (Migrant youth mobility in Europe: patterns, processes and consequences)

Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2024-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Moving during childhood is a potentially stressful life event which may have adverse consequences later in life. In the ERC-funded MYMOVE project, we study how moving as a child influences the health, well-being, and family formation of migrants and natives later in life. This is done by using longitudinal population register data and survey panel data from across Europe.
The proportion of youth with an immigrant background is increasing all across Europe. Scientific studies have mainly focused on the effects that the international migration move has for these individuals, while ignoring their subsequent moves. Some descriptive studies, however, suggest that immigrant children are also more likely than their native-born peers to move within the country of settlement after their initial international migration. Research across disciplines has, however, documented that moving is a key and potentially disruptive life event that is often stressful for the family and children involved. Notwithstanding the potential relevance of childhood internal mobility for individual life chances in adulthood we still know very little regarding if, how and for whom childhood internal mobility matters, and whether it has (mid- and long-term) consequences in adult life.
To date, the scientific literature on internal mobility and international migration has developed in parallel but hardly any cross-fertilization has occurred. This has resulted in the study of either international migration or internal mobility without looking at the essential linkages between the two types of moves and their accumulation over the individual life course. In addition, childhood internal mobility has often been studied in a rather simplified way (being mobile or immobile), without taking different relevant dimensions of the move into account, such as the number of moves, the reason for the move, or the age at which the move takes place. Up until recently more advanced simultaneous analyses were also hampered by the lack of suitable longitudinal data that include both immigrants of diverse origins and native born.The main objective of the MYMOVE project is to develop a better understanding of the relationship between internal mobility in childhood and later life chances as defined by demographic family life choices, health and well-being.
The project makes five innovative contributions to the so far scattered literature:
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1.Comprehensively mapping patterns of childhood internal mobility
2. Study its mid- and long-term consequences for diverse immigrant groups and the native-born
3. Cover two key outcomes that are crucial in the individual life path: demographic family behaviour and health and well-being
4. Simultaneously study different dimensions of internal mobility (number, reason, timing, distance)
5. Distinguish three levels of influence that may moderate the effect of internal mobility (the neighbourhood of origin and destination, family background, and individual characteristics).
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The MYMOVE project breaks new ground by using unique and new longitudinal (full-) population register and survey panel data from across Europe.​

For more information see mymoveproject.nl

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The MYMOVE project developed new ways of studying mobility in childhood and the relation with later life outcomes. New data and methods were used in the project which linking across disciplinary boundaries resulting in groundbreaking insights in the field of studies on mobility and their outcomes for individuals later in their lives. The project made five innovative contributions and contributed to capacity building and networking in the European research landscape.
The first innovation of the project is that it systematically mapped and reconstructed childhood internal mobility patterns for those of immigrant and non-immigrant background using longitudinal full population data and survey data with a retrospective moving module from across Europe. By using big data covering the full or large numbers of the population and by distinguishing between those of migrant and non-migrant origin innovation was achieved. The project was carried out for eight countries.
Second the project was the first to study childhood internal mobility consequences in adult life in a longitudinal way. By studying mid- and long-term effects of mobility in childhood the project provided insight into the key turning points in life that may have long-lasting effects on a person (adulthood), while at the same time also see what temporary effects may be relevant (young adulthood). Third, the project captured a range of outcomes in later life including demographic family life choices, health and well-being as well as school outcomes. This advanced the knowledge on impacts of moving in different spheres of life and also allowed for comparing across these domains as an effect in one domain is not necessarily resulting in effects in another domain. Fourth, a key innovation of the project was that it went beyond a mere dichotomy of moving The project managed to cover different dimensions of childhood internal mobility and take a life trajectory approach observing persons between 0 and 16 years the number of moves made, the distance of the move(s), the reason for the move(s) and the person’s age at the internal move(s). The latter was combined with info on with whom the move took place, from where to where the person moved and the housing conditions at origin and destination of the moves etc. As such the project advanced the understanding of how neighborhood, family and individual characteristics affect the relationship between childhood internal mobility and adult life outcomes.
Team members came from different complementary backgrounds (demography, sociology, geography, youth studies, family sociology) which stimulated exchange and innovation. It allowed for capitalizing on expertise that is available in the best possible way. In addition, the project team was international with experts in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, UK, Belgium, Germany and Finland. As such the project created a network of key scholars in the field that goes beyond the project and its duration e.g. in the IUSSP panel on life time migration and the EAPS working group on early child development. Three PhD students have successfully completed their PhD thesis. Throughout the project duration there were numerous outreach activities with academia and policymakers. Also the work by the individual researchers has been covered in the media throughout the course of their work.
On the project website all information on the project, its achievements, dissemination and outreach activities can be found https://www.mymoveproject.nl.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

This project gives inside into the effects of childhood mobility experiences among a diverse population. This is essential information as it is known that childhood experiences may have long lasting effects in later life. How and to what extent this is the case for mobility in childhood is so far unknown. The project will provide key inside into how moving is related to other experiences in childhood and for whom and when this increases vulnerability. The overarching aim of the project is then to understand how this does affect the individual not only in the short run but also how and for whom it may have long lasting influence on the life course.

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kids moving