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Cultural adaptation and societal context: The role of historical heterogeneity in cultural adaptation of newcomers

Authors :
Sarah Huff
Mary Yoko Brannen
Kathrin J. Hanek
Fiona Lee
Source :
International Journal of Intercultural Relations. 85:141-155
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
Elsevier BV, 2021.

Abstract

In today’s global world, it has become increasingly important for individuals moving to a different country for work, study, or permanent relocation to successfully adapt to this new culture. Responding to recent calls in the literature for more ecological approaches to the study of cultural adaptation, we examine the effect of host country historical heterogeneity—or, the extent to which a country’s current inhabitants descended from a diverse pool of ancestors—on newcomers’ cultural adaptation to that country. Across two studies, we find that higher levels of host country historical heterogeneity predict higher rates of cultural adaptation among newcomers. This relationship persists even when accounting for individual characteristics of the newcomers and sociocultural/economic characteristics of the home and host countries. These results suggest that a country’s historical levels of diversity may contribute to the successful adaptation of newcomers above and beyond their personal characteristics, their home country environment, or current conditions in the host country, including current levels of diversity. These results have practical implications for facilitating newcomers’ successful cultural adaptation.

Details

ISSN :
01471767
Volume :
85
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
International Journal of Intercultural Relations
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........56c5250bafae8df7099ede6ee877f059