Transnationalism and parenthood in a new country

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight gaps in the literature regarding transnational ties, the experience of raising and caring for children in a new (high-income) country and well-being, and to propose a program of research to address these gaps.

Design/methodology/approach

A general review of the literature on international migration, transnationalism and parenthood was conducted. A program of research and its objectives are then described.

Findings

To address research gaps, the proposed program of research aims to: develop approaches and tools to examine and measure the transnational experiences of migrant families; better understand migrants’ transnational obligations, resources and movements and their impact on parenthood and the health and well-being of families; assess whether existing health and social care and services for migrant families with children consider the transnational contexts and experiences of families; and determine how health and social care and services for migrant families with children may be adapted or developed to address transnational challenges and enhance transnational resources for families.

Originality/value

The proposed program of research offers a new approach, transnationalism, for producing knowledge toward better understanding the health and optimizing the care of migrant families in the context of raising and caring for children in a new country. It also contributes to the agenda setting regarding the approach and priority areas for research in migrant health.

Citation

Merry, L. and Edwards, N. (2019), "Transnationalism and parenthood in a new country", International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, Vol. 15 No. 4, pp. 294-305. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMHSC-02-2019-0023