How adult immigrants’ cultural identity changes over time

What is it about?

Migration often involves more than moving to a new place—it also requires adapting to a new culture, language, and social environment. This process, known as acculturation, can shape how people see themselves and where they feel they belong. Cultural identity is especially important in this process because it reflects both a person’s connection to their culture of origin (ethnic identity) and their connection to the country where they now live (national identity). Understanding how these identities change over time is important for understanding immigrant adaptation, belonging, and integration. The study focuses on the early postmigration period, which is considered especially important because immigrants are still adjusting to their new environment and their cultural identities are still developing. During this phase, people may begin building a sense of belonging to the host country while also reconsidering their relationship to their culture of origin. The findings showed that cultural identity changed most strongly during the first decade after migration. On average, identification with immigrants’ culture of origin became weaker over time, while identification with Germany became stronger. These processes may be related to Germany's multicultural policies. The study also found large differences between individuals, showing that identity development after migration is not the same for everyone. Factors such as country of origin, reasons for migration, and opportunities for social and structural integration influenced how people experienced cultural identity change across adulthood.

Featured Image

Photo by mana5280 on Unsplash

Photo by mana5280 on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The findings suggest that cultural identity is not fixed but develops over time and is shaped by social opportunities, inclusion, and life experiences. This means that policies promoting social participation may also support immigrants’ sense of belonging. At the same time, the study shows the importance of recognizing and respecting immigrants’ cultural backgrounds rather than viewing acculturation as a one-size-fits-all process.

Perspectives