This dissertation examines the educational positions of children of immigrants in the Netherlands from 1980 to 2020. In particular, the influence of migration background and socioeconomic factors... Show moreThis dissertation examines the educational positions of children of immigrants in the Netherlands from 1980 to 2020. In particular, the influence of migration background and socioeconomic factors on educational positions is studied. Findings reveal substantial progress in education for migrant children overall, especially among the second generation, younger cohorts, and girls with a migrant background, indicating promising upward mobility within the education system for many of these children. The family environment impacts educational outcomes, with socioeconomic background playing a crucial role. Higher parental incomes correlate with higher education levels for children in both the short and long term. Additionally, the living environment affects outcomes such as school dropout rates, especially among boys from migrant backgrounds in larger cities. They are more prone to leaving education prematurely than their female or non-migrant peers. Despite institutional barriers and discrimination within the education system, these children demonstrate an upward trend in education, highlighting the need for further research incorporating discrimination as a factor. Show less
The overall aim of this dissertation was to study the contribution of a syndemics framework to understanding and addressing persistent health disparities. Departing from an interdisciplinary... Show moreThe overall aim of this dissertation was to study the contribution of a syndemics framework to understanding and addressing persistent health disparities. Departing from an interdisciplinary approach, the dissertation attends to research questions on syndemics indicators, contextual drivers for syndemics, the intergenerational nature of syndemics, and possibilities for early public health interventions in Katwijk, a former fishing town in the Netherlands. An epidemiological study described the three most prevalent disease clusters in Katwijk. A qualitative life course study found a first indication that syndemic vulnerability is potentially intergenerational, and that syndemic processes can be countered. A mixed method study showed that while challenging, a family-engagement approach can elicit positive effects on families’ health and wellbeing. The ethnographic study described the hurdles for implementing family-focused health promotion for multifaceted health conditions, such as childhood obesity. This dissertation establishes that the syndemics framework provides tools to identify past and present factors on the complex pathways to persistent poor health, which in turn point at directions for breaking patterns of generational health. The findings highlight a need for multisystem approaches in which stakeholders develop a thorough understanding of a community’s history and past legacies with institutions, and professionals are equipped with the necessary knowledge, attitudes and skills for community-based and family-focused interventions. Show less
