Intergenerational and interethnic mental health: an analysis for the United Kingdom

Summary

This paper uses a nationally representative data set to examine the extent to which family migration history helps explains interethnic variations in mental health in the United Kingdom. We confirm that there is significant variation in mental health across ethnic group and generation of migration. Furthermore, we show how these dimensions interact. The analysis explores the extent to which neighbourhood, personal characteristics, and migration experience are related to mental health. We find evidence that all are important. Our results are consistent with a dynamic view of migration and settlement whereby individuals' circumstances and how they might contribute to mental health change over time and across generations.