Acculturation strategies of young immigrants living in Belgium: The view of young Belgian nationals

In contemporary society, migration has become a key topic. According to Berry (1997), individuals might display different attitudes and behaviors in the process of acculturation, defined as cultural and psychological changes resulting from the direct contact among members of multiple cultures. Whereas most research has concentrated on the acculturation strategies of immigrants, the aim of this study is to focus on the preferences of members of the receiving society. In particular, we analyze which strategy young Belgians consider the most suitable for immigrants to adopt, using a sample of Belgian students between the ages of 18 and 29 years living in Brussels. We account for several variables to shed light on the important aspects of intergroup relationships between host nationals and immigrants.