Trajectories of victimization in ethnic diaspora immigrant and native adolescents

Separating acculturation from development

authored by
Philipp Jugert, Peter F. Titzmann
Abstract

This longitudinal study aimed to differentiate between acculturative and developmental processes by (a) comparing levels and change rates in victimization among ethnic German immigrants and native German adolescents in Germany and Russian Jewish immigrants in Israel, and (b) testing whether interindividual differences in victimization among immigrant youth can be explained by the same general factors as in native groups or by migration-specific factors. In addition, we tested whether or not acculturative and developmental processes interact. The sample comprised 1,300 ethnic German immigrants, 820 native German adolescents, and 1,535 Russian Jewish adolescents. The participants (15.36-years-old) completed 3 annual assessments. Two-part latent growth models showed similar levels and rates of change among all 3 ethnic groups. Interindividual differences in victimization were largely explained by the same general factors across all ethnic groups but acculturation-related hassles explained additional variance among immigrant youth. Acculturation and development interacted such that the protective effect of age did not set in until 3-5 years of residence among both immigrant groups. Results suggest that developmental pathways to victimization are very similar among immigrant and native youth once immigrants successfully have managed the phase transition of resettlement.

Organisation(s)
Institute of Psychology
External Organisation(s)
Leipzig University
Universität Zürich (UZH)
Type
Article
Journal
Developmental Psychology
Volume
53
Pages
552-566
No. of pages
15
ISSN
0012-1649
Publication date
01.03.2017
Publication status
Published
Peer reviewed
Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Demography, Developmental and Educational Psychology, Life-span and Life-course Studies
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
Electronic version(s)
https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000254 (Access: Closed)