Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T18:25:45.483Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Social Integration of Latin-American Immigrants in Spain: the Influence of the Community Context

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2013

Asur Fuente  and
Juan Herrero
Asur Fuente*
Affiliation:
Universidad de Oviedo (Spain)
Juan Herrero
Affiliation:
Universidad de Oviedo (Spain)
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Asur Fuente. Universidad de Oviedo, Despacho 219. Plaza Feijoo s/n 33001 – Oviedo (Spain) Phone: +34-985103257. Fax: +34-985104164. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The main goal of this study is to analyze the degree to which several community elements such as insecurity, discrimination and informal community support might have an influence on the social integration of Latin-American immigrants, a group at risk of social exclusion in Spain. Multivariate linear regression analyses results showed that informal community support is positively related to social integration whereas insecurity is negatively related. The statistical relationship between discrimination and social integration disappears once levels of informal community support are taken into account. A better understanding of the factors that either promote or inhibit the social integration progress of immigrant population is important to orientate public policies and intervention programs that contribute to the adaptation of this population to the host society.

El objetivo de este estudio es analizar en qué medida diferentes elementos del contexto comunitario como la inseguridad, la discriminación y el apoyo informal, pueden influenciar el proceso de integración social de los inmigrantes latinoamericanos en España, un grupo en riesgo de exclusión social. Los resultados del análisis de regresión lineal multivariado muestran que el apoyo comunitario informal se relaciona positivamente con la integración social mientras la inseguridad lo hace de forma negativa. Por otra parte, la relación estadística entre discriminación e integración social desaparece una vez que son tenidos en cuenta los niveles de apoyo comunitario informal. Un mayor entendimiento de los factores que promueven o dificultan el proceso de integración social de la población inmigrante es imprescindible para orientar políticas públicas y programas de intervención eficaces que contribuyan a la adaptación de esta población a la sociedad receptora.

Keywords

social integrationinsecuritydiscriminationinformal community supportLatin-American immigrantsintegración socialinseguridaddiscriminaciónapoyo comunitario informalinmigrantes latinoamericanos
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 15 , Issue 3 , November 2012 , pp. 1201 - 1209
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adelman, M., Parks, M., & Albrecht, T. (1987). Beyond close relationships: Support in weak ties. In Albrecht, T. & Adelman, M. (Eds.), Communicating social support (pp. 126–147). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Aroian, K. J., Wu, B., & Van Tran, T. (2005). Health care and social service use among Chinese immigrant elders. Research in Nursing and Health, 28, 95–105. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/nur.20069CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Berry, J. W. (2001). A psychology of immigration. Journal of Social Issues, 57, 615–631. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111%2F0022-4537.00231CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bigo, D. (2001). Migration and security. In Joppke, C. & Guiraudon, V. (Eds.), Controlling a New Migration World (pp. 121–149). London, England: Routledge.Google Scholar
Castles, S., Rogers, A., Vasta, E., & Vertovec, S. (2003). Migration and Integration as Challenges to European Society-assessment of research reports carried out for the European Commission Targeted Socio-Economic Research (TSER) Programme. Oxford, England: University of Oxford.Google Scholar
Cohen, S., Gottlieb, B., & Underwood, L. (2000). Social relationships and health. In Cohen, S., Underwood, L., & Gottlieb, B. (Eds.), Social support measurement and intervention: A guide for health and social scientists (pp. 3–25). Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cowen, E. (2000). Community psychology and routes to psychological wellness. In Rappaport, J. & Seidman, E. (Eds.), Handbook of community psychology (pp. 79–99). New York, NY: Kluwer/Plenum. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4193-6_4CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cuellar, I., Bastida, E., & Braccio, S. M. (2004). Residency in the United States, subjective well-being, and depression in an older Mexican-origin sample. Journal of Aging and Health, 16, 447–466. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0898264304265764CrossRefGoogle Scholar
European Social Survey(2007). http://www.europeansocialsurvey.org/index.php?option=com_docman&& Shinn, M. (1992). Social integration and social support: Moving “social support” beyond the individual level. Journal of Community Psychology, 20, 103–115. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/1520-6629(199204)20:2103::AID-JCOP22902002023.0.CO;2-4Google Scholar
Fernandez-Kelly, M. P., & Schauffler, R. (1994). Divided fates: Immigrant children in a restructured US economy. International Migration Review, 28, 662–689. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307%2F2547153CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Finch, B. K., & Vega, W. A. (2003). Acculturation stress, social support, and self-rated health among Latinos in California. Journal of Immigrant Health, 5, 109–117. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1023987717921CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gracia, E., & Herrero, J. (2004a). Determinants of social integration in the community: An exploratory analysis of personal, interpersonal and situational variables. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 14, 1–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/casp.746CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gracia, E., & Herrero, J. (2004b). Personal and situational determinants of relationship-specific perceptions of social support. Social Behavior and Personality, 32, 459–476. http://dx.doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2004.32.5.459CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gracia, E., & Herrero, J. (2006). La comunidad como fuente de apoyo social: Evaluación e implicaciones en los ámbitos individual y comunitario [The community as a source of social support: Evaluation and implications on individual and community domains]. Revista Latinoamericana de Psicología, 38, 327–342.Google Scholar
Gracia, E., Herrero, J., Lila, M., & Fuente, A. (2010). La integración del inmigrante latinoamericano en España: Un estudio psicosociológico [The social integration of Latin-American immigrant in Spain: A psychosociological study]. Valencia, Spain: Palmero Ediciones.Google Scholar
Granovetter, M. (1973). The strength of weak ties. American Journal of Sociology, 78, 1360–1380. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/225469CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hernández, S., Alonso-Morillejo, E., & Pozo, C. (2006). Social support interventions in migrant populations. British Journal of Social Work, 36, 1151–1169. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093%2Fbjsw%2Fbch396CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Herrero, J., & Gracia, E. (2007a). Measuring perceived community support: Factorial structure, longitudinal invariance and predictive validity of the PCSQ (Perceived Community Support Questionnaire). Journal of Community Psychology, 35, 197–217. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jcop.20143CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Herrero, J., & Gracia, E. (2007b). Una medida breve de la sintomatología depresiva (CESD-7) [Abrief measure of the depressive symptomatology (CESD-7)]. Salud Mental, 30, 40–46.Google Scholar
Herrero, J., & Meneses, J. (2006). Short web-based versions of the Perceived stress (PSS) and Center of Epidemiology-Depression (CESD): A comparison with paper and pencil responses among internet users. Computers in human behavior, 22, 830–846. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2004.03.007CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Herrero, J., Fuente, A., & Gracia, E. (2011). Covariates of subjective well-being among Latin-American immigrants in Spain: The role of social integration in the community. Journal of Community Psychology, 39, 761–775. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jcop.20468CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Herrero, J., Gracia, E., Fuente, A., & Lila, M. (2012). Desorden social, integración social y bienestar subjetivo en inmigrantes latinoamericanos en España [Social disorder, social integration and subjective well-being among Latin-American immigrants in Spain]. Anales de Psicología, 28, 505–514. http://dx.doi.org/10.6018/analesps.28.2.148721CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Herreros, F., & Criado, H. (2009). Social trust, social capital and perceptions of immigration. Political Studies, 57, 337–355. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9248.2008.00738.XCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hughes, M., & Demo, D. H. (1989). Self-perceptions of black Americans: Self-esteem and personal efficacy. American Journal of Sociology, 95, 139–159. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086%2F229216CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huysmans, J. (2000). Migration and the politics of security. In Body-Gendrot, S. & Martiniello, M. (Eds.), Minorities inEuropean cities. The dynamics of social integration and social exclusion at the neighbourhood level (pp. 179–189). London, England: Macmillan.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jasinskaja-Lahti, I., Liebkind, K., & Perhoniemi, R. (2006). Perceived discrimination and well-being: A victim study of different immigrant groups. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 16, 267–284. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002%2Fcasp.865.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jasinskaja-Lahti, I., Liebkind, K., & Solheim, E. (2009). To identify or not to identify? National disidentification as an alternative reaction to perceived ethnic discrimination. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 58, 105–128. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1464-0597.2008.00384.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kalin, R., & Berry, J. W. (1996). Interethnic attitudes in Canada: Ethnocentrism, hierarchy and reciprocity. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 28, 253–261. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037%2F0008-400X.28.4.253CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lin, N., Dean, A., & Ensel, W. (Eds.). (1986). Social support, life events, and depression. New York, NY: Academic Press.Google Scholar
McMillan, D., & Chavis, D. (1986). Sense of community: Definition and theory. Journal of Community Psychology, 14, 6–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/1520-6629(198601)14:1<6::AID-JCOP2290140103>3.0.CO;2-I3.0.CO;2-I>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morrison, G. M., Laughlin, J., San Miguel, S., Smith, D. C., & Wideman, K. (1997). Sources of support for school-related issues: Choices of Hispanic adolescents carrying immigrant status. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 26, 233–252. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1024508816651CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Noh, S., & Kaspar, V. (2003). Perceived discrimination and depression: Moderating effects of coping, acculturation, and ethnic support. Racial/Ethnic Bias and Health, 93, 232–238. http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.93.2.232Google ScholarPubMed
Noh, S., & Avison, W. R. (1996). Asian immigrants and the stress process: A study of Koreans in Canada. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 37, 192–206. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2137273CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Observatorio Permanente de la Inmigración (2010). Extranjeros conautorización o tarjeta de residencia en vigor a 30 de junio de 2010 [Legally established immigrants in Spain on June 30th, 2010]. Madrid, Spain: Ministerio de Trabajo yAsuntos Sociales.Google Scholar
Phinney, J., Horenczyk, G., Liebkind, K., & Vedder, P. (2001). Ethnic identity, immigration, and well-being:An interactional perspective. Journal of Social Issues, 57, 493–510. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/0022-4537.00225CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Portes, A., & Zhou, M. (1993). The new second generation: Segmented assimilation and its variants. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences, 530, 74–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0002716293530001006CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Quassoli, F. (2001). Migrant as criminal: The judicial treatment of migrants' criminality. In Joppke, G. & Guiraudon, V. (Eds.), Controlling a new migration world (pp. 150–170). London, England: Routledge.Google Scholar
Quassoli, F. (2004). Making the neighbourhood safer: Social alarm, police practices and immigrant exclusion in Italy. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 30, 1163–1181. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1369183042000286296CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Radloff, L. (1977). The CES-D scale:Aself-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385–401. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/014662167700100306CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rebolloso, E., Hernández, S., Fernández, B., & Cantón, P. (2003). The Implications of immigration for the training of social work professionals in Spain. British Journal of Social Work, 33, 49–65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/33.1.49CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robinson, L. (2009). South Asians in Britain: Acculturation, cultural identity and perceived discrimination. The International Journal of Diversity in Organisations, Communities and Nations, 9, 71–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ross, C. E., & Jang, S. J. (2000). Neighborhood disorder, fear, and mistrust: The buffering role of social ties with neighbors. American Journal of Community Psychology, 28, 401–420. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1005137713332CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ross, C. E., Mirowsky, J., & Pribesh, S. (2001). Powerlessness and the amplification of threat: Neighborhood disadvantage, disorder, and mistrust. American Sociological Review, 66, 568–591. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3088923CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Safi, M. (2010). Immigrants' life satisfaction in Europe: Between assimilation and discrimination. European Sociological Review, 26, 159–176. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/esr/jcp013CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sampson, R. J., Raudenbush, S. W., & Earls, F. (1997). Neighborhoods and violent crime: A multilevel study of collective efficacy. Science, 277, 918–924. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.277.5328.918CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Santor, D. A., & Coyne, J. C. (1997). Shortening the CES-D to improve its ability to detect cases of depression. Psychological Assessment, 9, 233–243. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//1040-3590.9.3.233CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sarason, S. (1974). The psychological sense of community: Prospects for a community psychology. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.Google Scholar
Schlenker, B. R., & Britt, T. W. (1996). Depression and the explanations of events that happen to self, close others, and strangers. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71, 180–192. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.71.1.180CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schmitt, M. T., & Branscombe, N. R. (2002). The meaning and consequences of perceived discrimination in disadvantaged and privileged social groups. European Review of Social Psychology, 12, 167–199. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/0470013478.ch6CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schwarzer, R., Hahn, A., & Schröder, H. (1994). Social integration and social support in a life crisis: Effects of macrosocial change in East Germany. American Journal of Community Psychology, 22, 685–706. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02506899CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sellers, R. M., Caldwell, C. H., Schmeelk-Cone, K. H., & Zimmerman, M. A. (2003). Racial identity, racial discrimination, perceived stress, and psychological distress among African American young adults. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 44, 302–317. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1519781CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shen, B. J., & Takeuchi, D. T. (2001). A structural model of acculturation and mental health status among Chinese Americans. American Journal of Community Psychology, 29, 387–418. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1010338413293CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Slonim-Nevo, V., Mirsky, J., Rubinstein, L., & Nauck, B. (2009). The impact of familial and environmental factors on the adjustment of immigrants: A longitudinal study. Journal of Family Issues, 30, 92–123. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0192513X08324575CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Taylor, R. B., & Shumaker, S. A. (1990). Local crime as a natural hazard: Implications for understanding the relationship between disorder and fear of crime. American Journal of Community Psychology, 18, 619–642. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00931234CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Turner, R. J., & Turner, J. B. (1999). Social integration and support. In Aneshensel, C. C., Carol, S., & Phelan, J. C. (Eds.), Handbook of the sociology of mental health. New York, NY: Kluwer/Plenum.Google Scholar
Umberson, D. (1987). Family status and health behavior: Social control as a dimension of social integration. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 28, 306–319. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2136848CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vega, W. A., & Rumbaut, R. G. (1991). Ethnic minorities and mental health. Annual Review of Sociology, 17, 351–383. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.17.1.351CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vega, W. A., Kolody, B., Valle, R., & Weir, J. (1991): Social networks, social support and their relationship to depression among immigrant Mexican women. Human Organization, 50, 154–162.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Verkuyten, M. (2008). Life satisfaction among ethnic minorities: The role of discrimination and group identification. Social Indicators Research, 89, 391–404. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11205-008-9239-2CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wandersman, A., & Florin, P. (2000). Citizen participation and community organizations. In Rappaport, J. & Seidman, E. (Eds.), Handbook of community psychology (pp. 247–272). New York, NY: Kluwer/Plenum. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4193-6_11CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilmoth, J. M., & Chen, P. C. (2003). Immigrant status, living arrangements, and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults. Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 58B, 305–313. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geronb/58.5.S305CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zapata-Barrero, R. (2009). Policies and public opinion towards immigrants: The Spanish case. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 32, 1101–1120. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01419870802302280CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zick, A., Pettigrew, T. F., & Wagner, U. (2008). Ethnic prejudice and discrimination in Europe. Journal of Social Issues, 64, 233–251. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.2008.00559.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar