Discrimination and Psychosocial Well-Being of Migrants in Spain: The Moderating Role of Sense of Community.

The discrimination migrants perceive during their adaptation process is one of the main sources of stress and it affects their well-being, health and integration severely. The present study analyses how the sense of community (SOC) can have a protective effect against the perception of discrimination and its negative consequences by verifying the following theoretical model: discrimination predicts three indicators of psychosocial well-being (psychological distress, satisfaction with life and feelings of social exclusion). Furthermore, the theoretical model proposed also considers the hypothesis that SOC has a moderating role on the effect of perceived discrimination regarding the three variables mentioned above. 1714 migrants from Eastern Europe, Africa and Latin America who live in Málaga, Spain, participated in the study. Data were collected using random-route sampling and survey methodology. After carrying out multiple regression analyses, using the PROCESS tool in SPSS 20, the theoretical model was verified: SOC reduces the negative effects of perceived discrimination for the variables psychological distress, satisfaction with life and social exclusion feelings. Therefore, migrants who have a greater SOC experience fewer negative consequences, as compared to those with a lower SOC, for whom the consequences of such variables are more negative. These results highlight the importance for migrants to rebuild social networks in the host country and develop a good SOC. Results also allow the development of intervention patterns to favor positive interactions between native population and migrants.

Intergroup alliance orientation among intermediate-status group members: The role of stability of social stratification.

Three studies have tested the hypothesis that intermediate-status groups are more oriented to ally with outgroups when their social position is under threat. In study 1, participants believed that their ingroup was intermediate in status and social stratification was manipulated as either stable or status-detrimental unstable. Results indicated that participants were more likely to seek alliances a) with a high-status group and b) when social stratification was status-detrimental unstable. Study 2 showed that participants were more likely to seek alliances with a lower status group when social stratification was status-detrimental unstable rather than stable, while they were supportive of policies helping disadvantaged groups regardless of the stability of social stratification. Study 3 showed that when social stratification was status-detrimental unstable, intermediate-status group members were more oriented to ally with a low-status group, equally supportive of policies helping disadvantaged groups, but less oriented to supplying direct help to a low-status group.

Identity, Couple and Intergroup Dynamics in Intercultural Families: Implications on Life Satisfaction of Partners.

The current study analyzed how identity, couple, and intergroup dynamics are related to life satisfaction among 210 intercultural partners living in Italy. Three levels of analysis were considered: a micro level, taking into account the identity aspect of each partner in terms of self- or hetero-ethnic identification; a meso level, examining the passion, commitment, and intimacy of the couple sphere of the partners; a macro level investigating the discrimination that partners can perceive by the community as an effect of the relationship between dominant and minority groups. The results show that for both partners, foreign and Italian, the variables that have a predictive value on life satisfaction bring into play the couple and the intergroup dynamics, leaving out the identitary one. Specifically, increased perceived discrimination as a member of a mixed couple leads to decreased life satisfaction by partners. In turn, we can see that a strong intimacy between partners enhances their life satisfaction. These results introduce a reflection on the role of the differences about the ethnic identity, considered erroneously the main cause of dissatisfaction in the mixed couple. The implications of the study are described and suggestions for future research discussed.

El presente estudio analizó cómo la dinámica de la identidad, de la pareja e intergrupal está relacionada con la satisfacción con la vida entre 210 integrantes de parejas interculturales que viven en Italia. Se consideraron tres niveles de análisis: un nivel micro, que tiene en cuenta el aspecto de la identidad de cada integrante de la pareja en cuanto a la autoidentificación étnica o la héteroidentificación étnica; un nivel meso, que analiza la pasión, el compromiso y la intimidad en el ámbito de pareja de los integrantes de la pareja; un nivel macro que investiga la discriminación que los integrantes de la pareja pueden percibir de la comunidad como consecuencia de la relación entre grupos dominantes y minoritarios. Los resultados demuestran que para ambos integrantes de la pareja, extranjero e italiano, las variables que tienen un valor predictivo sobre la satisfacción con la vida ponen en juego la dinámica de pareja e intergrupal, excluyendo la de identidad. Específicamente, una mayor discriminación percibida como integrante de una pareja interracial conduce a una menor satisfacción con la vida por parte de los integrantes de la pareja. A su vez, podemos obsevar que una intimidad profunda entre los integrantes de la pareja mejora su satisfacción con la vida. Estos resultados presentan una reflexión sobre el papel que juegan las diferencias con respecto a la identidad étnica, considerada erróneamente la causa principal de insatisfacción en la pareja interracial. Se describen las implicancias del estudio y se debaten sugerencias para investigaciones futuras.