The sense of belonging in the context of migration – Meanings and developmental trajectories

in Wagoner, Brady; Christiansen, Bo; Demuth, Carolin (Eds.) Culture as a Process (2021)

The need to belong is fundamental to human beings and constitutes a basis for subjective well-being. It is closely linked to further concepts, such as identification, connectedness, attachment, fitting in ... [more ▼]

The need to belong is fundamental to human beings and constitutes a basis for subjective well-being. It is closely linked to further concepts, such as identification, connectedness, attachment, fitting in and feeling “at home”. The present contribution will focus on the sense of belonging in the context of migration in its different facets - cultural, social and spatial - and in relation to different points of reference - national, ethnic and transnational belonging. Applying the lens of cultural psychology of semiotic mediation, the development of a sense of belonging will be discussed with regard to first generation migrants and their second-generation offspring in a life span perspective, drawing on concepts such as proculturation as well as the Trajectory Equifinality Approach. [less ▲]

Cultural identity and values in intergenerational movement: The multicultural case of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg

Doctoral thesis (2020)

Migration flows have led to an increase in questions about the multiple cultural influences on individuals. The resulting demographic changes raise in many host societies essential questions related to ... [more ▼]

Migration flows have led to an increase in questions about the multiple cultural influences on individuals. The resulting demographic changes raise in many host societies essential questions related to national belonging, and thus to cultural identity and value systems. While migrating to a new cultural environment, migrant individuals face several challenges and they have to negotiate several developmental tasks using self-regulatory strategies, with correspondingly different psychological outcomes. These issues become even more important in a country such as Luxembourg with a high migrant proportion (47%; Statec, 2019). Little is still known about how second-generation adults who have grown up in immigrant families negotiate the double cultural identity, and about their value profiles compared to the local populations of the country of origin and receiving country. Four diverse subsamples were used out of the broader IRMA project pool, depending on the different objectives of the four studies. In total, N = 506 participants from three cultural subgroups ( LU natives, PT migrants in Luxembourg & PT natives in Portugal) participated in the quantitative part of the IRMA project ( LuN: n = 179; PtM: n = 209 & PtN: n = 118), and N = 20 took part in the qualitative part (n = 10 PtM dyads & n = LuN dyads). Study 1 highlighted the importance of the migration experience as a life-disruptive event that has impacts on individual and family cultures, as well as value systems during the life of migrant families. Study 2, looking specifically at PT migrant families, found a generational gap in terms of adult children’s higher attachment to the receiving culture as well as stronger tendencies towards a compatible identity orientation compared to their respective parents. However, the qualitative part of Study 2 revealed ambivalent feelings about double cultural belonging amongst the Portuguese second-generation adult children. Study 3 therefore focused on the latter and identified four ways of dealing with double cultural frames - blended, alternated, separated (Phinney & Devich-Navarro, 1997) - and expanded the model by identifying a fourth cluster of ambivalent cultural identity. In addition, the survey analyzed how their cultural identity profiles enabled them to achieve personally or socially meaningful goals and values. Blended biculturals used mainly primary regulatory control strategies, which were linked to the most positive psychological outcomes (higher self-esteem & well-being, and low acculturation stress). The ambivalent cluster was the least successful in terms of psychological outcomes (low self-esteem & well-being, and high acculturative stress) using both primary and secondary compensatory regulatory strategies. Study 4, an intercultural comparison between two family generations – one adult child and two elder parents – within three different cultural subgroups – LuN, PtM and PtN – aimed to better disentangle the effects of family, culture and immigration, and thus investigate the different cultural influences and messages reflected in the processes of transmission of values and value profiles. Overall, findings of Study 4 revealed the existence of an intergenerational gap between elder parents and their respective adult children; the presence of a cultural gap between the three cultural subgroups studied, which could be explained by both culture of origin and migration, with specifically an acculturation gap in the sub-sample of Portuguese migrants; and a moderate relative intergenerational transmission across cultures. The latter thus allows for a certain cultural persistence and continuity of a society and its cultural system (Trommsdorff et al., 2004) while allowing for cultural flexibility over generations that could be important for family identity and beneficial for well-being far more than a mere exact reproduction of values over generations (Barni & Donato, 2018). [less ▲]

Living In-Between or Within? Cultural Identity Profiles of Second-Generation Young Adults with Immigrant Background

in Identity (2020), 20(4), 290-305

Migration flows have generally led to an increase in questions about the multiple influences on people’s cultural identity. This study aims to examine more closely the ways in which second-generation ... [more ▼]

Migration flows have generally led to an increase in questions about the multiple influences on people’s cultural identity. This study aims to examine more closely the ways in which second-generation individuals of Portuguese descent juggle a two-fold cultural environment. We opted for a person-centered approach with a sample of N = 70 adults, all from Portuguese immigrant families living in the Grand-duchy of Luxembourg. Results yielded three different bicultural profiles: blended, alternating bicultural, and a new ambivalent cultural identity profile. Our results distinguish between psychological markers of identity and the behavioral aspects necessary for the transition from one cultural framework to the other. In addition, we observed different patterns of psychosocial health among the four cultural identity profiles. Our research enriches the literature by highlighting different endorsement of regulatory control strategies of second-generation adults according to their cultural identity profile, with different psychological outcomes. [less ▲]

Intergenerationelle Solidarität im Kontext von Migration: Gegenseitige Erwartungen, familienbezogene Werthaltungen und filiale Angst in portugiesischen und luxemburgischen Familien

Scientific Conference (2018, September 20)

Vor dem Hintergrund einer sich am Übergang zum Rentenalter befindlichen ersten Generation von Migranten gewinnen Fragen zur intergenerationellen Solidarität in Familien mit Migrationshintergrund zunehmend ... [more ▼]

Vor dem Hintergrund einer sich am Übergang zum Rentenalter befindlichen ersten Generation von Migranten gewinnen Fragen zur intergenerationellen Solidarität in Familien mit Migrationshintergrund zunehmend an Bedeutung. Ein Verbleiben im Aufnahmeland könnte im Einklang mit kulturspezifischen Werthaltungen mit besonderen Erwartungen an die erwachsenen Kinder einhergehen. Die vorliegende Studie befasst sich ausgehend von Bengtson’s Solidaritätsmodell mit der Frage, wie sich die intergenerationelle Solidarität im Migrationskontext ausgestaltet, insbesondere welche gegenseitigen Erwartungen Eltern und erwachsene Kinder haben und wie der gegenseitige Austausch reguliert wird. Im Rahmen der vom FNR geförderten IRMA-Studie wurden mittels eines standardisierten Fragebogens Daten zur Familienkohäsion, zu gegenseitigen Erwartungen bezüglich Unterstützung und familienbezogenen Werthaltungen sowie zur filialen Angst und zum subjektiven Wohlbefinden an n = 67 in Luxemburg lebenden portugiesischen sowie n = 87 luxemburgischen Familien (Vater, Mutter und jeweils ein erwachsenes Kind) erhoben. Während luxemburgische und portugiesische Familien eine ähnlich hohe Familienkohäsion aufwiesen, zeigten sich Unterschiede in der Ausgestaltung des gegenseitigen Austauschs. Portugiesische Teilnehmer berichteten höhere Erwartungen bezüglich Kontakthäufigkeit und Unterstützung, wohingegen der Zusammenhalt luxemburgischer Familien eher durch eine generelle Verfügbarkeit bei Bedarf gekennzeichnet war. Es zeigte sich kein Mittelwertsunterschied der portugiesischen und luxemburgischen erwachsenen Kinder bezüglich filialer Angst. Während allerdings ein starker wahrgenommener Familienzusammenhalt mit geringerer filialer Angst in beiden Gruppen einherging, war ein stärkeres Bedürfnis nach Unabhängigkeit aber insbesondere bei den portugiesischen Kindern mit höherer filialer Angst verbunden. Die Ergebnisse werden unter Berücksichtigung intrafamilialer Prozesse der Beziehungsregulation im Rahmen eines integrativen Modells von Familienbeziehungen im Kontext von Altern und Migration diskutiert. [less ▲]

Acculturation as a success story: Theoretical elaborations, lay perceptions and empirical evidence for “successful” migration in the multicultural context of Luxembourg

Poster (2018, July 04)

Acculturation research has for a long time concentrated on problematic issues related to migration, often taking a deficit approach. Only recently have researchers shifted their focus toward factors that ... [more ▼]

Acculturation research has for a long time concentrated on problematic issues related to migration, often taking a deficit approach. Only recently have researchers shifted their focus toward factors that might be linked to positive outcomes of migration and integration. The present paper will deal with the question of how individuals from migrant and non-migrant families might profit from multiculturalism and cultural diversity in a resource-oriented perspective. After a theoretical elaboration on how “successful” migration could be defined and by which indicators it could be measured, we will focus on lay perceptions of this concept drawing on qualitative interviews from the FNR-funded IRMA study (“Intergenerational Relations in the light of Migration and Ageing”). More precisely, a number of altogether n = 20 Portuguese immigrant and Luxembourgish dyads of one parent and one adult child each discussed about their experiences and views on migration and the multicultural context of Luxembourg. Finally, we will identify predictors of subjective well-being in a quantitative sample of n = 73 Portuguese immigrant families (mostly one adult child together with both parents), taking into account satisfaction in different life domains as well as social and temporal comparison processes. Analyses show that for first generation immigrants as well as for their children social downward comparisons with Luxembourgish and Portuguese peers living in the host country were beneficial for their subjective well-being, whereas comparisons with Portuguese still living in Portugal and temporal comparisons were less important. The discussion will propose an integrative model for the study of migration taking into account participants’ generation status and their migration history. [less ▲]

Because I need them, because I don’t: Regulation of family relations between adult children and their parents

Poster (2017, August)

The world’s demography has evolved requiring policy makers and practitioners all over the world to face in the next years important issues specifically related to the steadily increasing migration. Only ... [more ▼]

The world’s demography has evolved requiring policy makers and practitioners all over the world to face in the next years important issues specifically related to the steadily increasing migration. Only few studies have, however, focused on the regulation of relations between adult children and their ageing parents in host national compared to immigrant families. Migrant families might be confronted with specific tasks. While the acculturation situation might give rise to an increased need for intergenerational support, an acculturation gap between both generations can potentially lead to different expectations. Adult children from immigrant families might, for instance, be subject to the experience of ambivalent or conflictual feelings regarding the desire to become independent from their parents; at the same time, they may feel the urge to conform to parental expectations or to support their parents in accordance to the values of their parents’ culture of origin. However, older parents may also undergo changes in their perception of intergenerational support and lower their expectations in the process of acculturation. A qualitative cross-cultural comparison is conducted of n = 10 Portuguese and n = 10 Luxembourgish dyadic interviews of older parents and their adult children, both living in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg. We will focus on different key issues regarding the regulation of intergenerational family relations between first and second generations of host nationals and immigrants focussing on processes such as interdependent and independent selfconstrual comparing both cultural groups and both generations. First analyses show a heightened importance of geographical proximity in Portuguese migrant families compared to Luxembourgish native families for family relations. Likewise, regular interactions appear to be more required, needed and expected in Portuguese migrant families, especially from the parents while this is only to some extent, supported by their children. [less ▲]

Intergenerational relationship regulation in the light of migration and ageing: The case of (young) adult children and their parents from Portuguese immigrant and Luxembourgish families.

Scientific Conference (2017, July 14)

The negotiation of autonomy and relatedness in the relations between children and their parents constitutes a key topic of intergenerational relationship regulation over the whole family life cycle. In ... [more ▼]

The negotiation of autonomy and relatedness in the relations between children and their parents constitutes a key topic of intergenerational relationship regulation over the whole family life cycle. In the context of migration, an acculturation gap between parents and their adult children might lead to different identity constructions and mutual expectations with regard to intergenerational solidarity and support. These differences in expectations and beliefs can affect relationship quality between the family members from different generations as well as their well-being. In the present study, we focus on a sample of altogether N = 152 Luxembourgish and Portuguese (young) adults and their parents from immigrant and Luxembourgish families, all living in Luxembourg. Portuguese adult children were born resp. had grown up in Luxembourg. First results show a high cohesion in both Portuguese immigrant and luxembourgish families; however, enmeshment and normative expectations regarding adult children’s support for their ageing parents were higher in Portuguese families. The findings further suggest that ambivalence might be experienced in particular when individual striving for independence seems difficult to reconcile with norms of family obligation. Implications for well-being of family members from both generations will be discussed taking into account an integrative model on intergenerational family relations in the light of migration and ageing. [less ▲]

Ambivalenzerfahrungen im Kontext der Individuation im jungen Erwachsenenalter: Autonomie und Verbundenheit in portugiesischen und luxemburgischen Familien in Luxemburg.

Scientific Conference (2017, June 23)

Es wird im Allgemeinen angenommen, dass Phasen des Übergangs in Eltern-Kind-Beziehungen besonders von Ambivalenzerfahrungen geprägt sein können. Das junge Erwachsenenalter als eine solche Phase der ... [more ▼]

Es wird im Allgemeinen angenommen, dass Phasen des Übergangs in Eltern-Kind-Beziehungen besonders von Ambivalenzerfahrungen geprägt sein können. Das junge Erwachsenenalter als eine solche Phase der Transition ist dabei gekennzeichnet durch die Aushandlung von Autonomie und Verbundenheit, die gerade im Zusammenhang mit einem verlängerten Übergang vom Jugend- ins Erwachsenenalter, wie er durch das Konzept der «emerging adulthood» (Arnett 2000) beschrieben wird, an Bedeutung gewinnt. Ein wichtiges Ereignis stellt hier zweifelsohne der Auszug aus dem Elternhaus dar, der aber nicht unbedingt mit einer vollständigen finanziellen oder emotionalen Unabhängigkeit einhergehen muss. Im Rahmen des vom FNR geförderten Projekts IRMA («Intergenerational Relations in the light of Migration and Ageing») wurden insgesamt 20 qualitative Interviews mit im Grossherzogtum Luxemburg lebenden luxemburgischen und portugiesischen Eltern-Kind-Dyaden im jungen Erwachsenenalter durchgeführt. Die portugiesischen jungen Erwachsenen waren in Luxemburg aufgewachsen, wohingegen ihre Eltern in früheren Jahren eingewandert waren. Anhand der Analyse einer Interviewsequenz, die sich mit dem Auszug aus dem Elternhaus befasst, konnten in einer Inhaltsanalyse mehrere Themenbereiche herausgearbeitet werden, nämlich Bedürfnisse nach Autonomie und Verbundenheit, Kontakthäufigkeit nach dem Auszug, geographische Nähe oder Distanz sowie die Kohäsion innerhalb der Familie. Dabei stellte sich heraus, dass Unterschiede zwischen portugiesischen und luxemburgischen Familien in der Art der Beziehungsregulation bestehen, die auch mit einem unterschiedlichen Auftreten von Ambivalenzen verbunden sein könnten. Die Ergebnisse werden im Hinblick auf die Rolle von Ambivalenz als Katalysator für die Beziehungsregulation sowie mögliche Kulturunterschiede im Erleben und Umgang mit Ambivalenzen zwischen jungen Erwachsenen und ihren Eltern diskutiert. [less ▲]

Family cultures in the context of migration and ageing

in Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science (2017), 51(2), 205-222

Intergenerational family relations are embedded in family cultures which influence how families regulate their relations over the whole life span with regard to key issues, such as autonomy and ... [more ▼]

Intergenerational family relations are embedded in family cultures which influence how families regulate their relations over the whole life span with regard to key issues, such as autonomy and relatedness, or support exchange and reciprocity, and which may vary inter- and intraculturally. Migrant families undoubtedly face a special situation as values and expectations from the culture of origin and from the host cultural context might differ. Not much is known yet about how migrant families adapt their family cultures to the host cultural context. The present article will focus on aspects of intergenerational family regulation by taking into account family cultures of migrant compared to non-migrant families in a life span perspective. We will illustrate our theoretical outline by presenting first results from the IRMA-study comparing Luxembourgish and Portuguese immigrant families living in Luxembourg. We focus on issues of family cohesion, enmeshment and normative expectations regarding adult children’s support for their ageing parents, by drawing both on quantitative questionnaire as well as qualitative interview data. Implications for the experience of ambivalence and conflicts as well as well-being of family members from both generations will be discussed. [less ▲]

Past experiences, future expectations and subjective wellbeing of older Portuguese first generation migrants in Luxembourg

Scientific Conference (2016, February 19)