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Home-Leaving Patterns Among Middle Eastern-Origin Youth in Sweden: The Influence of Origin, Generation, and Neighbourhood

Zalfou, Rami LU and Tegunimataka, Anna LU (2026) In European Journal of Population
Abstract
This study examines home-leaving patterns among Middle Eastern (ME) immigrants and youth with ME backgrounds in Sweden using population register data for individuals aged 17 to 35 between 1998 and 2022. Applying competing risks models, we analyse transitions from the parental home to independent living while accounting for marriage as an alternative pathway. The results show that youth of ME origin are less likely than native Swedes to leave the parental home for independent living and more likely to transition directly into marriage. These differences are particularly pronounced among the second generation and among women. Individual and parental socio-economic characteristics explain only a small share of the observed gaps between... (More)
This study examines home-leaving patterns among Middle Eastern (ME) immigrants and youth with ME backgrounds in Sweden using population register data for individuals aged 17 to 35 between 1998 and 2022. Applying competing risks models, we analyse transitions from the parental home to independent living while accounting for marriage as an alternative pathway. The results show that youth of ME origin are less likely than native Swedes to leave the parental home for independent living and more likely to transition directly into marriage. These differences are particularly pronounced among the second generation and among women. Individual and parental socio-economic characteristics explain only a small share of the observed gaps between immigrants and natives, while neighbourhood unemployment is strongly associated with lower transition rates to independent living. Overall, the findings highlight persistent differences in the timing and pathways of leaving the parental home between immigrant-origin youth and the native population. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
Home leaving, Middle Eastern immigrants, Second-generation immigrants, Competing risks analysis, Sweden
in
European Journal of Population
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • pmid:42319520
  • scopus:105044006887
ISSN
0168-6577
DOI
10.1007/s10680-026-09776-8
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
fbb71bf5-4cef-40c8-abec-bacf2a868cc2
date added to LUP
2026-06-23 11:44:26
date last changed
2026-07-20 04:00:59
@article{fbb71bf5-4cef-40c8-abec-bacf2a868cc2,
  abstract     = {{This study examines home-leaving patterns among Middle Eastern (ME) immigrants and youth with ME backgrounds in Sweden using population register data for individuals aged 17 to 35 between 1998 and 2022. Applying competing risks models, we analyse transitions from the parental home to independent living while accounting for marriage as an alternative pathway. The results show that youth of ME origin are less likely than native Swedes to leave the parental home for independent living and more likely to transition directly into marriage. These differences are particularly pronounced among the second generation and among women. Individual and parental socio-economic characteristics explain only a small share of the observed gaps between immigrants and natives, while neighbourhood unemployment is strongly associated with lower transition rates to independent living. Overall, the findings highlight persistent differences in the timing and pathways of leaving the parental home between immigrant-origin youth and the native population.}},
  author       = {{Zalfou, Rami and Tegunimataka, Anna}},
  issn         = {{0168-6577}},
  keywords     = {{Home leaving; Middle Eastern immigrants; Second-generation immigrants; Competing risks analysis; Sweden}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{European Journal of Population}},
  title        = {{Home-Leaving Patterns Among Middle Eastern-Origin Youth in Sweden: The Influence of Origin, Generation, and Neighbourhood}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10680-026-09776-8}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10680-026-09776-8}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}