Social inclusion of Chinese immigrants in Portugal: The roles of length of residence and social networks

Abstract

Focusing on Chinese immigrants, this study investigated the role of length of residence and social networks on social inclusion, which we operationalized as psychological adaptation, socio-cultural adaptation, economic adaptation and political participation in the Portuguese society. The study found that:(a) Chinese immigrants’ overall social networks was positively correlated with psychological adaptation and socio-cultural adaptation; (b)Chinese immigrants’ length of residence in the host society was positively related to psychological adaptation and socio-cultural adaptation; (c) The overall social networks but not differentiated networks mediated the relationship between immigrants’ length of residence and their socio-cultural adaptation and the relationship between length of residence and psychological adaptation. Limitations of the study and implications for further research were discussed.