What does it mean for different groups of migrants in Europe to age in a happy and healthy way? This is the question Professor Katja Möhring, junior professor of Sociology of the Welfare State at the University of Mannheim, is addressing in collaboration with Professor Ahmet Icduygu (Koç University, Türkiye), Professor Francesca Lagomarsino (Università degli Studi di Genova, Italy), and Professor Basak Bilecen (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Netherlands). The Volkswagen Foundation is now funding this four-year research project with around EUR 1.2 million. The Mannheim professor heading the project will receive just under EUR 350,000.
In their international study, the researchers want to use quantitative methods to determine, for example, which factors influence the quality of aging among migrants in Europe and whether differences can be found between different groups of people. In the qualitative part of the study, they will conduct so-called walking interviews with two different groups of migrants. During these interviews, the researchers will walk with their participants and talk about how they perceive their retirement and what influence their neighborhood and environment have on it.
The aim of the study is to develop specific offers for older migrants, such as, for example, courses or workshops introducing them to ways to increase their health and well-being. “Our project will produce very useful results, and very innovative ones as well. We hope to be able to use them to improve the everyday lives of retired migrants to some extent,” says the project manager.