Acculturation Preferences, Ethnic and Religious Identification and the Socio-Economic Adaptation of Russian-Speaking Immigrants in Belgium

Abstract

This study tests a model of the socio-economic adaptation (SEA) of Russian-speaking immigrants in Belgium. It examines the roles of language skills and length of stay in Belgium, and of ethnic and religious identification in their acculturation preferences in their adaptation. The study showed that language skills were positively related to preferences for integration and assimilation, while length of stay was negatively related to separation. In turn, integration and assimilation predicted higher SEA, and separation predicted lower adaptation. Ethnic and religious identification also played a role. In sum, more orientation toward the host society (integration and assimilation) promoted better adaptation.

Keywords:

• Socio-economic adaptation
• acculturation attitudes
• ethnic identification
• religious identification
• acculturation of immigrants
• labor market adjustment

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr. Vassilis Pavlopoulos (University of Athens, Greece) for his help on index of socio-economic adaptation scale in Russian.

Notes

1. Constant and Zimmermann (2008) used the two-dimensional ethnosizer that was very similar to Berry’s approach.

2. Acculturation strategies were measured on the basis of answers to 4 items rated on a 5-point scale: frequency of contact with ethnic group, frequency of contact with the host society, frequency of use of ethnic language, and frequency of use of the Greek language.