Social Psychological and Personality Science
Volume 10, Issue 2, 2019, Pages 144-151

Improving Refugee Well-Being With Better Language Skills and More Intergroup Contact (Article) (Open Access)

Tip L.K.* , Brown R. , Morrice L. , Collyer M. , Easterbrook M.J.
  • a University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
  • b University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
  • c University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
  • d University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
  • e University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom

Abstract

The effects of intergroup contact on prejudice are well established. However, its effects on minority group well-being have been rarely studied. We hypothesized that contact with members of the majority culture will be related to better well-being, and that this is facilitated by majority language proficiency. We tested this hypothesis in a three-wave longitudinal study of refugees over 2 years (N = 180). Cross-lagged path modeling confirmed that intergroup contact at earlier time points was associated with increased well-being at later time points; the reverse associations (from earlier well-being to later contact) were not reliable. Self-rated earlier English language competence was positively associated with later intergroup contact (but not the reverse), suggesting that improving majority language proficiency might be the key to better well-being of refugees, with intergroup contact being the mediator between language and well-being. © The Author(s) 2018.

Author Keywords

language Intergroup relations Refugees Intergroup contact Well-being

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85052564245&doi=10.1177%2f1948550617752062&partnerID=40&md5=a4879c026dd122512494633baee7f219
DOI: 10.1177/1948550617752062
ISSN: 19485506
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English