Family Reunification and Mental Health

Lisbeth la Cour; Sanne Kruse-Becher; Birthe Larsen

doi:10.1016/j.econlet.2025.112479

Family Reunification and Mental Health

Lisbeth la Cour
, Sanne Kruse-Becher
, Birthe Larsen^*

^*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Økonomisk Institut

DHBW Stuttgart

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review

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Abstract

This paper analyses the connection between migration policy and mental health, specifically how family reunification impacts adult immigrants’ mental health. Using Danish register data from 1995–2019, the study focuses on non-Western immigrants and the purchase of prescription medication for mental health issues. Results indicate that family reunification improves the mental health of low-income non-Western male immigrants, especially those unemployed before reunification. The positive impact is temporary for non-Western women.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Artikelnummer	112479
Tidsskrift	Economics Letters
Vol/bind	255
Antal sider	5
ISSN	0165-1765
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2025.112479
Status	Udgivet - sep. 2025

Bibliografisk note

Published online: 21 July 2025.

Emneord

International migration
Health
Reunification
Socio-economic background

FN’s Verdensmål

Dette resultat bidrager til følgende verdensmål

Adgang til dokumentet

10.1016/j.econlet.2025.112479Licens: CC BY

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Citationsformater

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title = "Family Reunification and Mental Health",

abstract = "This paper analyses the connection between migration policy and mental health, specifically how family reunification impacts adult immigrants{\textquoteright} mental health. Using Danish register data from 1995–2019, the study focuses on non-Western immigrants and the purchase of prescription medication for mental health issues. Results indicate that family reunification improves the mental health of low-income non-Western male immigrants, especially those unemployed before reunification. The positive impact is temporary for non-Western women.",

keywords = "International migration, Health, Reunification, Socio-economic background, International migration, Health, Reunification, Socio-economic background",

author = "\{la Cour\}, Lisbeth and Sanne Kruse-Becher and Birthe Larsen",

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AU - la Cour, Lisbeth

AU - Kruse-Becher, Sanne

AU - Larsen, Birthe

N1 - Published online: 21 July 2025.

PY - 2025/9

Y1 - 2025/9

N2 - This paper analyses the connection between migration policy and mental health, specifically how family reunification impacts adult immigrants’ mental health. Using Danish register data from 1995–2019, the study focuses on non-Western immigrants and the purchase of prescription medication for mental health issues. Results indicate that family reunification improves the mental health of low-income non-Western male immigrants, especially those unemployed before reunification. The positive impact is temporary for non-Western women.

AB - This paper analyses the connection between migration policy and mental health, specifically how family reunification impacts adult immigrants’ mental health. Using Danish register data from 1995–2019, the study focuses on non-Western immigrants and the purchase of prescription medication for mental health issues. Results indicate that family reunification improves the mental health of low-income non-Western male immigrants, especially those unemployed before reunification. The positive impact is temporary for non-Western women.

KW - International migration

KW - Health

KW - Reunification

KW - Socio-economic background

KW - International migration

KW - Health

KW - Reunification

KW - Socio-economic background

U2 - 10.1016/j.econlet.2025.112479

DO - 10.1016/j.econlet.2025.112479

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0165-1765

VL - 255

JO - Economics Letters

JF - Economics Letters

M1 - 112479

ER -