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In contemporary Western democracies, immigrant integration is a pressing policy concern, historically focusing on labor market integration, language proficiency, and economic mobility. Until recently, relatively less attention has been paid to subjective aspects of immigrant integration within the broader society. In countries like the U.S., where immigrant identities are often scrutinized and politicized amidst heightened polarization over migration, current integration discourse highlights the crucial role of belonging in immigrant integration. Yet, belonging is intertwined with identity and group affiliation, racialized identities, the relationship between belonging and home, the politics of inclusion, and the connection between belonging and integration. While literature argues that an eroded sense of belonging poses a significant threat to integration, evidence of immigrants’ sense of belonging and its role in integration remains fragmented. Our study in a midwestern U.S. city aimed to (1) understand the relationship between immigrants’ sense of belonging, integration, and quality-of-life and (2) examine the interplay between belonging, integration, and their quality-of-life.
Methods
Our study, part of a larger research project using mixed methods grounded in community-based participatory research, gathered quantitative data through a cross-sectional survey at community town hall events. The community sample (N=109; 56.1% male, 43.9% female) represented immigrant and refugee groups from 23 countries. We assessed multidimensional integration, independent variable (α=0.76) across six domains: linguistic, economic, psychological, social, and navigational. We measured quality-of-life, a dependent variable, with the subjective well-being scale (α=0.86). As a moderator, the sense of belonging was measured with the challenged sense of belonging scale (α=0.87). Covariates included age, birth region, sex, and length of stay. We used t-tests to compare integration levels with belonging and quality-of-life. We examined the moderating effect of belonging (W) on the relationship between integration (X) and quality-of-life (Y) using PROCESS macro.
Results
Results revealed paradoxical relationships between immigrant integration, belonging, and their quality-of-life. Bivariate results showed significant differences between groups with higher integration (M=15.86, SD=2.86) experiencing higher belonging (t= -2.47, p<.01) and higher quality-of-life (t=-3.14, p<.01) compared to those with lower integration (M=19.10, SD=5.56). However, higher integration (B=-1.18, p<.01) and higher belonging (B=-2.83, p<.001) were both associated with lower quality-of-life. Moderation analysis showed a significant moderating effect of belonging on the association between integration and quality-of-life (B=.09, p<.01). Decomposition of interaction effect indicated that higher levels of integration were significantly associated with higher levels of quality-of-life when individual’s sense of belonging levels were higher (B=.50, p<.001). In contrast, the association was insignificant with lower belonging levels.
Conclusion
Results divulge the “immigrant integration paradox,” highlighting the complex experiences of immigrants in their host communities. While immigrants bring valuable skills and diversity and enter American life, they often face barriers to belonging, hindering their integration and quality of life. Structural inequalities and discrimination impede their progress, underscoring the disparity between their potential contributions and systemic challenges. The implications of these findings are significant for policy and practice, highlighting the need for comprehensive policies to foster a sense of belonging among immigrants, promote intentional inclusion in their communities, and harness immigrants' quality of life.