Immigrant Friendships and Social Integration: A Study of Friendship Networks and Sense of Belonging


Ka Po Kong, University of British Columbia; Sean Lauer, University of British Columbia

Current research has demonstrated the significance of social networks in the dynamics of international migration, from the initiation of migration processes to the subsequent settlement and success of immigrants in host societies (Boyd 1989, 2012). These networks contribute to the accumulation of social capital, providing immigrants with tangible and intangible resources crucial for integration, such as financial support and access to information (Kazemipur, 2006). Research also finds that minority immigrants often rely more heavily on social networks as a compensatory strategy for mitigating other disadvantages in their new homes (Raza et al., 2013; Soehl and Van Haren, 2023). While a growing body of literature investigates the role of social networks in settlement outcomes, fewer discussions focus on the relevance of social networks in enhancing or constraining the social integration of immigrants. Research on immigrant friendship networks is particularly scarce, due partly to the fluid nature of non-contractual relationships and the context dependence across different settings (e.g., classrooms, university environment). More friendship and social integration studies concentrate on children and adolescent immigrants in educational settings (Hooijsma and Juvonen, 2021; Lorenz et al., 2021; Reynolds and Crea, 2017), leaving the experiences of adult immigrants less explored. Friendship is a barometer of social integration. Friendships signify a sense of mutual respect and acceptance between two equals (Vela-McConnell, 2017). Friendships, though voluntary and egalitarian, often reinforce and are patterned to reflect social stratification. Research finds that individuals tend to befriend those of homogenous status, including race, ethnicity, and immigrant identity, which can contribute to exacerbating network homophily and social segregation (Mollica et al., 2003; Titzmann, 2014; Zhao, 2023). Therefore, friendship networks serve as a valuable inquiry into immigrant social integration, which offers not only essential social capital but also fosters a sense of identity and access to broader social connections. Immigrant friendship networks can contribute significantly to their making of new homes and belongingness. Using the data from the Canadian General Social Survey (GSS) Cycle 27, this study asks: How do friendship network characteristics influence immigrants’ sense of belonging to their host community? To provide a more comprehensive view of the characteristics of friendship networks, this paper builds on Van der Horst and Coffé’s (2012) three-component network model: size (the number of friends), heterogeneity (the number of friends of different ethnic backgrounds), and interconnectedness (the frequency of contact). The analysis compares the means and distributions of these characteristics between immigrant and non-immigrant groups. Then, a binary logistic regression model is applied to assess the influences of friendship networks on the sense of belonging, while controlling sex, age and visible minority status variables. Preliminary findings reveal that immigrants generally maintain a smaller size of close friendship networks, averaging two to three close friends, and exhibit lower interconnectedness that most immigrants have in-person communications with friends twice to three times a month, compared to non-immigrants. Interestingly, immigrants also tend to have more friends of different ethnic backgrounds than non-immigrants. However, this pattern varies across ethnic groups, with the ethnic majority (33%) and Chinese (32%) reporting no cross-ethnic friends at all. The regression model (R2=0.106) indicates that a stronger sense of belonging in the host community is associated with having more close friends, higher frequency of telephone communication, greater satisfaction with communication and a moderate level of friendship network heterogeneity. Additionally, ethnic identity significantly influences immigrants sense of belonging, with a Chinese ethnic identity showing the strongest negative relationship. This study aims to explore the link between friendship network characteristics and immigrants social integration. Preliminary findings highlight the significance of the core friendship network in shaping the sense of belonging, limiting the impact of peripheral relationships. Surprisingly, while heterogeneous networks contribute to belongingness, the effect is most robust at a few and about half levels. Moreover, higher telephone contact frequency and satisfaction with communication enhance immigrants sense of belonging, emphasising the influence of closer ties and higher connectedness on social integration. In contrast, overly loose and very heterogeneous friendships may negatively impact immigrants’ feelings of belongingness. Overall, preliminary findings suggest that aside from cross-ethnic friendships, co-ethnic connections also play an equally important role in immigrants’ sense of belonging, and further call for more investigation on immigrant friendship networks and social integration.

This paper will be presented at the following session: