ADOLESCENT IMMIGRANTS’ HOST SATISFACTION IN A RECENT IMMIGRATION RECEIVING COUNTRY

Year 2010, Volume: 2 Issue: 2, 47 - 54, 01.12.2010

Elena Briones Juan Cosano M. Carmen Tabernero

Abstract

Host country satisfaction, as an index of immigrants’ psychological adaptation, has particular
importance for immigrant communities in the destination country. We explain immigrant
adolescents’ satisfaction with their level of life in Spain by examining the contribution of
sociodemographic variables, ethnic and mainstream identification, the perception of ethnic group
discrimination, and the length of time lived in the host country. We examine a group of 347
Moroccans and Ecuadorians adolescent immigrants, two of the biggest immigrant communities in
Spain that differ in their cultural distance (e.g., language, religion) to the mainstream culture. We
provide empirical evidences that; first, Spanish language proficiency, mainstream (and not ethnic)
identification, and time lived in Spain are positively related to host country satisfaction; second,
immigrants’ perception of ethnic discrimination is negatively associated with host country
satisfaction; and third, cultural distance to the mainstream does not significantly moderate these
associations (i.e. the relationships are similar for the two ethnic groups).
Considering these results, social policies aimed at promoting positive attitudes towards cultural
diversity and supporting immigrants’ participation in the host society should be encouraged.

Keywords

Mainstream cultural orientation, Perceived ethnic discrimination Ethnic minorities, Ethnic cultural orientation, Host country satisfaction

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