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The role of physical leisure activities in refugees’ structural integration

Author

Listed:
  • Kuhlemann, Jana

    (Mannheim Centre for European Social Research (MZES), University of Mannheim)

  • Kosyakova, Yuliya

    (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg, Germany)

Abstract

"This study investigates the role of engaging in physical leisure activities in facilitating refugees’ structural integration through enhancing their social capital, destination-language proficiency, and health. The physical fitness gained from such activities can also be crucial for securing physically demanding jobs. As employment significantly influences refugees’ social integration, this research specifically examines the impact of the intensity and regularity of sports engagement on employment outcomes among refugees from the 2015/16 influx in Germany. Utilizing longitudinal data from the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey of Refugees, findings reveal that regular and more intensive engagement in physical leisure activities increases refugees’ chances of securing gainful employment and obtaining physically demanding jobs in the subsequent year. However, sports involvement does not correlate with higher occupational prestige, potentially locking them into lower-status jobs. Additionally, time spent in other types of leisure activities shows a slightly negative association with labor market outcomes, underscoring the unique benefits of sports. This points to the dual-edged nature of sports as an integration tool – beneficial in fostering initial labor market entry but possibly limiting in terms of career advancement." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Suggested Citation

  • Kuhlemann, Jana & Kosyakova, Yuliya, 2025. "The role of physical leisure activities in refugees’ structural integration," IAB-Discussion Paper 202515, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    • Handle: RePEc:iab:iabdpa:202515
    DOI: 10.48720/IAB.DP.2515
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification
    • Z20 - Other Special Topics - - Sports Economics - - - General

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