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Predictors of Refugee Adjustment: The Importance of Cognitive Skills and Personality

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  • Hahn, Elisabeth
  • Richter, David
  • Schupp, Jürgen
  • Back, Mitja D.

Abstract

In light of the recent worldwide migration of refugees, determinants of a more or less successful integration are heavily discussed, but reliable empirical investigations are scarce and have often focused on sociodemographic factors. In the present study, we explore the role of several individual characteristics for refugee adjustment in the areas of (a) institutional, (b) interpersonal and (c) intrapersonal adaptation. In a sample of 4,527 refugees (M = 33.6 years, 38% women), we investigated the effect of sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, months in Germany, religious affiliation), cognitive factors (cognitive ability, educational history, language skills, integration-course participation), and personality (locus of control, risk appetite, willingness to reciprocity) on adjustment parameters. Both, cognitive skills (especially language skills) and personality, showed incremental validity beyond sociodemographic factors for refugee adjustment comparable across contextual factors. Even with respect to contextual factors such as residency status and living situation, results remained largely stable. The study provides first hints on the importance of personality, thereby providing important implications for understanding integration processes and optimizing interventions on personal, social, and societal levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Hahn, Elisabeth & Richter, David & Schupp, Jürgen & Back, Mitja D., 2019. "Predictors of Refugee Adjustment: The Importance of Cognitive Skills and Personality," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 5(1[Art. no), pages 1-14.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:espost:200146
    DOI: 10.1525/collabra.212
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Richard Alba & Nancy Foner, 2014. "Comparing Immigrant Integration in North America and Western Europe: How Much Do the Grand Narratives Tell Us?," International Migration Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48, pages 263-291, September.
    2. Elisabeth Liebau & Zerrin Salikutluk, 2016. "Viele Geflüchtete brachten Berufserfahrung mit, aber nur ein Teil einen Berufsabschluss," DIW Wochenbericht, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 83(35), pages 732-740.
    3. Pfeifer, Christian, 2008. "A Note on Risk Aversion and Labour Market Outcomes: Further Evidence from German Survey Data," IZA Discussion Papers 3523, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. John Hayfron, 2001. "Language training, language proficiency and earnings of immigrants in Norway," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(15), pages 1971-1979.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jacobsen, Jannes & Krieger, Magdalena & Schikora, Felicitas & Schupp, Jürgen, 2021. "Growing Potentials for Migration Research using the German Socio-Economic Panel Study," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 241(4), pages 527-549.
    2. Cyrine Hannafi & Mohamed Ali Marouani, 2023. "Social integration of Syrian refugees and their intention to stay in Germany," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 36(2), pages 581-607, April.
    3. Camilla Modesti & Alessandra Talamo, 2021. "Defining Adjustment to Address the Missing Link between Refugees and Their Resettlement Communities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-20, September.
    4. Yuliya Kosyakova, 2021. "Socioemotional Skills and Refugees’ Language Acquisition," RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series 2130, Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF Berlin) - Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM).
    5. Livia Hazer & Gustaf Gredebäck, 2023. "The effects of war, displacement, and trauma on child development," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-19, December.

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