Determinants of Well-Being in Transnational Families: A Scoping Review of the European Context

Abstract

Transnational families (TNFs) are a growing demographic in
Europe, yet no scoping review has systematically mapped the
multilevel determinants shaping their well-being across Europe's
diverse welfare regimes. This review addresses that gap. A
systematic search of Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and
PsycINFO identified 42 peer-reviewed articles published in
English (2014–2024) focusing on TNFs in Europe and
addressing well-being. Guided by the transnational ecological
systems framework, thematic analysis organised findings into
four levels from proximal to distal: (1) Individual-level
determinants, (2) Family & community-level determinants, (3)
Institutional & policy-level determinants and (4) Societal &
structural determinants. Findings demonstrate that well-being in
TNFs emerges from the transaction between individual agency
and structural environments, filtered through diverse European
welfare regimes. These findings call for a shift from nationally
centred service models towards transnational competence in
social work practice and inclusive policies recognising cross-
-border caregiving. Future research should prioritise
participatory approaches and address the geographical bias
towards Western and Northern European contexts.