Family trajectories and health of Pakistanis and their descendants in the United Kingdom and Norway

Abstract

Immigrant and minority incorporation and assimilation are highly relevant for policymakers, academics, and wider society. Previous family and health research has shown huge variation between minority groups. However, most studies have compared only in one context. This research investigates Pakistani immigrants and their descendants in the United Kingdom and Norway. The study contains three empirical chapters, on family formation trajectories, cancer incidence and mortality and all-cause mortality. It applies longitudinal methods, to individual level administrative and survey data to identify differences between Pakistanis and natives, changes between the immigrant generation and their descendants, and differences between a group of the same origin in the UK and Norway.

The results show distinct similarities between UK and Norway in cancer incidence and mortality. Similarities are also observed in family formation, although second generation immigrants in Norway are more like natives compared to the UK where they have maintained similar trajectories to the immigrant generation. For mortality Pakistani migrants in Norway have worse mortality than natives, something which is sustained to the second generation. In England and Wales this is not the case, Pakistani immigrants experience a mortality advantage compared to natives, and their descendants have similar mortality risks. However, when comparing Pakistanis in Norway to Pakistanis in England and Wales, those in Norway have lower risk of mortality. This all indicates that the pathways to assimilation can vary across life course domains and are influenced by the destination context that immigrant groups experience.