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Local Contact and Sense of Belonging to the Host Society Among Highly Educated Migrants

Author

Listed:
  • Lin Xue

    (Xi’an Jiaotong University)

  • Eric Fong

    (Xi’an Jiaotong University
    The University of Hong Kong)

  • Shafei Gu

    (The University of Hong Kong)

Abstract

We investigated how the quality, quantity, and types of local contact are related to the sense of belonging to the host society among highly educated migrants in Hong Kong. Drawing from a data set collected in 2018 and 2020 in Hong Kong, we found that not all local contacts are related to the level of sense of belonging to the host society of highly educated migrants. Of all local contacts (at work, during leisure time, and in the residential community), the only contacts that matter are those that occur in the residential community. Furthermore, only participation in locally oriented voluntary and religious organizations are significantly related to migrants’ sense of belonging. Discrimination plays an important role, while language proficiency is not related to sense of belonging.

Suggested Citation

  • Lin Xue & Eric Fong & Shafei Gu, 2024. "Local Contact and Sense of Belonging to the Host Society Among Highly Educated Migrants," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 61-84, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joimai:v:25:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s12134-023-01041-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s12134-023-01041-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Karin Amit & Shirly Bar-Lev, 2015. "Immigrants’ Sense of Belonging to the Host Country: The Role of Life Satisfaction, Language Proficiency, and Religious Motives," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 124(3), pages 947-961, December.
    2. Baert, Stijn & Vujić, Sunčica, 2016. "Immigrant volunteering: A way out of labour market discrimination?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 95-98.
    3. Adrienne La Grange, 2018. "Classifying elements of a typology of gated communities," International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 11(3), pages 520-540, April.
    4. repec:eme:ijhma0:ijhma-07-2017-0065 is not listed on IDEAS
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