Abstract
AbstractLearning the local language is important for the successful integration of immigrants. Previous research has identified a number of sociodemographic factors that are associated with the effectiveness of local language acquisition among immigrants, but little is known about the influence of psychological differences on immigrants’ local language acquisition. In the present research, individual differences in general mental ability (GMA), work search intention, and personality traits Conscientiousness and Openness were studied among recently arrived Syrian (n = 1054) and Eritrean (n = 500) refugees in the Netherlands. The results revealed that in addition to the effects of age of arrival, local length of stay, premigration educational attainment, and psychological distress, GMA and work search intention were positively associated with refugees’ local language proficiency. Additionally, work search intention was found to strengthen the effect of GMA on local language proficiency. No positive linear effects were observed for Conscientiousness and Openness. Some evidence was found for curvilinear relationships between psychological predictors and local language proficiency. Implications are discussed.
Highlights
From 2014 until the end of 2017, about 4 million refugees entered Europe, and many of them have applied for asylum (UNHCR, 2017)
We found no support that Conscientiousness or Openness moderated the relationship between general men‐ tal ability (GMA) and refugees’ local lan‐ guage proficiency
The present study investigated the relationship between refugees’ psychological individual differences and local language acquisition
Summary
From 2014 until the end of 2017, about 4 million refugees entered Europe, and many of them have applied for asylum (UNHCR, 2017). Research among earlier waves of immigrants showed that host country language proficiency is positively related to psychological well‐being (Beiser & Hou, 2001), employment (Aldashev, Gernandt, & Thomsen, 2009; Bloch, 2002), and higher earnings (Chiswick & Miller, 2007; Dustmann, 1994; Shields & Price, 2002). Several earlier studies have investigated predictors of local language acquisition of immigrants and refugees (see Chiswick & Miller, 2007; Esser, 2006). This research suffers from sev‐ eral shortcomings Most of these studies have focused on so‐ ciodemographic factors as predictors of local language acquisition
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