Perceived inclusiveness of the social context, acculturation and adaptation of migrants from the North Caucasus in Moscow

Abstract

Often, the acculturation of migrants has been considered in previous studies in isolation from the social context in which it flows and depends. This article raises the question of the role of perceived inclusiveness of the social context in real acculturation preferences of migrants, as well as in their psychological and sociocultural adaptation. The study involved 175 migrants from the North Caucasus in Moscow, of which 82% were men, average age of 21 years. The research methodology included methods for measuring migrants' perceived acculturation expectations of the host population and migrants’ real behavior strategies, perceived discrimination, life satisfaction, self-esteem, and socio-cultural adaptation. As a result of path analysis, it was revealed that the perceived inclusiveness of the social context positively associated with acculturation strategies, which are based on the interaction with the host population (integration and assimilation), and negatively associated with the separation strategy.Migrants from the North Caucasus who prefer an integration strategy in intercultural interaction demonstrate a high level of psychological and sociocultural adaptation.Migrants who prefer separation strategy demonstrate a high level of psychological adaptation, but a low level of sociocultural adaptation.A low level of life satisfaction is shown by migrants who prefer assimilation strategy. An evaluation of indirect effects showed that perceived inclusiveness of the context leads to sociocultural adaptation through integration and to sociocultural disadaptation through separation, but it can be associated to a low level of life satisfaction through assimilation