Acculturation Preferences and Their Correlates of Second Generation Immigrants in Main Cities of Western Europe

George Groenewold, Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI)
Jeroen van Ginneken, Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI)

Berry's (1997) two-dimensional model of acculturation was applied to recent survey data collected in main cities in six European countries to examine differentials in and correlates of acculturation preferences of second generation Turkish, Moroccan and Former Yugoslavian immigrants in the age range 18-35 years. An ‘ethnic group culture preservation index’ and a “host country adaptation index” were derived to classify respondents into groups favoring integration, assimilation, separation or marginalization. Results show that children of immigrants as well as the comparison group maintain integration preferences. However, a large share of the second generation also believes that norms and values prevailing in the parent's country of origin should be maintained and applied in daily life. This viewpoint is often not shared by members of the comparison group. Cultural integration and preservation preferences appear to vary by city, neighborhood characteristics, descent group, educational attainment, religiosity, discrimination experience and self-efficacy.