Identities in Transition: a Longitudinal Study of Immigrant Children, 2004-2006

<P>Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.</P><br>A multidisciplinary and multi-method longitudinal study that investigates how the immigration process impacts on young children’s identities, and the consequence for their well-being and social acceptance. The study specifically focussed on British Asian and White English children aged 6-8 and 9-11 years, who were 1st generation immigrants (N=40), 2nd generation immigrants (N =178 ) and white English (N =180 ). This research aimed to further our understanding of social developmental processes involved in the acculturation of young immigrant children and consisted of a 12 month longitudinal study, with three testing points at 6 month intervals. This allowed us to track identity and acculturation changes developmentally. It also allowed us to examine causal relationships between variables. Both qualitative and quantitative interview techniques were used. Children completed quantitative measures of ethnic and English identification, acculturation strategy, perceived acculturation strategy of the ethnic out-group and experience of racist discrimination. The relationship between these variables and reported ethnic in- and out-group friends, in-group bias, peer acceptance and self-esteem were also examined using quantitative techniques. Two qualitative studies were also conducted, the first examining Social Capital (N=32) and the second examining Social Capital and acculturation in refugee children (N=8). This research informs our theoretical understanding of children’s social development, and their attachment to their ethnic groups, and also social policy concerned with improving the integration of immigrant children into schools.