Suchergebnisse

First-generation immigrants are surprisingly satisfied with their life compared to the local population in Germany. Is this because newcomers are particularly resourceful? We test if personality selectivity, purposive adaptation, and social resilience separately or in tandem explain why subjective well-being remains high even in times of objective disadvantage. Using German panel data (GSOEP) from 5,008 first-generation immigrants for the years 1984–2014 and official data, growth curve models show that newcomers are a selected group with respect to their open and less neurotic personalities and that these personal characteristics are distinctly associated with happiness. Also, newcomers immediately compare their income to the standards in the host society but not their family life. This contributes to boosting their subjective well-being as well. For more than 30 years, first-generation immigrants use their country of origin as a reference point thus protecting the positive association of intimate relationships and happiness. Finally, newcomers are highly capable of recovering from social loss. Since the resources used by first-generation migrants to preserve their subjective well-being are unlikely to be confined to Germany, our findings can inform policy-making. Most importantly, they suggest that the economic integration of newcomers should be fast and easy while family reunification and integration should follow only with a time lag.

"Familien schaffen Gesundheit, aber der Wandel familiärer Strukturen wird für viele negative gesundheitliche Veränderungen in der Bevölkerung verantwortlich gemacht. Wie entwickelt sich die Gesundheit von jüngeren Kindern heute in Deutschland, wenn Eltern zusammen oder getrennt leben? Anhand der Daten des Sozio-oekonomischen Panels können wir zeigen, dass Kinder in traditionellen Ehen nicht generell gesünder sind als Kinder in anderen Familien. So ist das Risiko, dass Kinder an einer gesundheitlichen Störung leiden, bei getrennt-lebenden Müttern sogar signifikant niedriger als bei Kindern verheirateter Mütter. Trotzdem haben Kinder verheirateter Mütter ein höheres Geburtsgewicht und einen weniger von der Norm abweichenden Body-Mass-Index (BMI) als Kinder geschiedener Mütter. Im Längsschnitt und unter Kontrolle möglicher Selektionseffekte lässt sich die negative gesundheitliche Wirkung einer Trennung und Scheidung der Eltern nachweisen. Vor allem die mentale und intellektuelle Verfassung der Mutter, nicht aber ihre materielle Situation, kann helfen, die negativen gesundheitlichen Folgen einer Trennung abzufedern. Vor dem Hintergrund der steigenden Zahlen alleinerziehender Mütter wird die aktuelle und zukünftige Bedeutung der Befunde diskutiert." (Autorenreferat)

"Families produce health, but changes in familial structures are made responsible for many negative health trends in the population. How does the health of younger children today in Germany develop when comparing whether the parents live together or separately? Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), we are able to show that children in traditional marriages are not generally healthier than children in other families. For example, the risk of suffering health problems is even significantly lower among younger children of single mothers than among children of married mothers. Nevertheless, children of married mothers have a higher birth weight and a body mass index (BMI) that deviates less from the norm than the children of divorced mothers. Longitudinally and under control of possible selection effects, there is evidence that the separation and divorce of parents has negative health effects. Especially the mental and intellectual state of the mother, rather than her material situation, can help to cushion the negative consequences of a separation on her children's health. Against the background of increasing numbers of single mothers, we will discuss the current and future significance of these findings." (author's abstract)

Are women and men, mothers and fathers represented equally in the German Bundestag? Or does politics remain a male-dominated affair and is that owed to the fact that most women have and raise children, which restrains their availability for the demanding time schedule of a politician? This question is highly relevant, given the current debate about a female quota for leadership positions in Germany's economy. A comparison of legislative terms before and after the introduction of a female quota by political parties shows that indeed the number of women increased, but mothers remain considerably underrepresented. The degree of underrepresentation varies between parties. In the CDU/CSU and FDP it has increased significantly. However, a mother quota has potential advantages and disadvantages which are discussed. Adapted from the source document.