C.M. Fokkema

C.M. Fokkema is a Senior Researcher at the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI-KNAW) in the Families & Generations group and serves as an endowed professor of Ageing, Families and Migration at the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam. Within IMISCOE, she coordinates the Standing Committee 'Older Migrants' and is internationally recognized as a specialist on ageing, intergenerational solidarity, migration, and their intersection.

Dr. Fokkema holds a PhD in Economics from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, which has provided the foundation for her interdisciplinary approach to demographic research. Her educational background bridges economic theory with sociological and gerontological perspectives, allowing her to examine complex population dynamics through multiple lenses.

Fokkema's research primarily focuses on the experiences of older migrants, with particular attention to loneliness, social networks, intergenerational relationships, and return migration. She has extensive experience analyzing large-scale cross-national surveys including SHARE, GGS, and TIES, and has conducted fieldwork among older migrants in Italy and Morocco. Her work examines how cultural backgrounds, migration histories, and social contexts shape aging experiences, particularly why certain migrant groups experience higher levels of loneliness despite maintaining social contacts.

Her recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on understanding social determinants of well-being among older adults from migrant backgrounds, increasingly addressing intersections of migration status with gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic position. She has made significant contributions to understanding the 'loneliness paradox' among certain migrant groups who maintain social contacts yet still experience high loneliness.

Dr. Fokkema was involved in the ERC Research project 'Families in Context' (2014-2018), which examined social implications of growing old in migration contexts. Her research has practical implications for policies addressing social isolation among vulnerable older populations and has been published in leading journals including The Journals of Gerontology, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Population, Space and Place, European Journal of Ageing, and Ageing and Society.

She actively participates in research networks focused on migration and aging, contributing to both theoretical advancements and practical interventions in the field. Her dual affiliation with NIDI-KNAW and Erasmus University Rotterdam positions her at the forefront of demographic research on aging and migration in Europe.