The Relationship between Identity Integration and Social Integration: A Look at Maghrebi Immigrants in Montreal

The cultural integration of immigrants has become a societal ideal in the province of Quebec, Canada, as it represents the key to experiencing a positive migration (Berry, 1997) and to better psychological and sociocultural adjustment (Nguyen & Benet-Martínez, 2013). There are several facets to cultural integration. Identity integration refers to the internalization of multiple cultural identities in one’s immigrant sense of self. Cultural identities can be seen as blended (cohesion between one’s multiple cultural identities within oneself) or compartmentalized (keeping one’s multiple cultural identities separated from one another within the self) (Yampolsky, Amiot & de la Sablonnière, 2016). As a second form of integration, social integration can be reflected by immigrants’ relationships structure, resulting in a large and culturally diversified social network (Mok et al., 2007; Repke & Benet-Martínez, 2017). The main objective of this study, conducted among Maghrebi immigrants (n=65) to Montreal was to explore the relationship between identity integration and social integration. Results of multiple regression analysis showed that migrants’ cultural identities configurations (blendedness vs. compartmentalization) were related to the structure of their social network, in terms of network homogeneity and diversity (Crossley et al., 2015). Further research is required to establish which form of cultural integration (identity integration or social integration) would best predict well-being (psychological and sociocultural) among immigrants.