Ethnic minority status and psychological integration among China's internal migrants: the mediating role of bonding social capital

Description

Xu Yuan, Xiaoli Wei, and Yong Xie use a 2026 survey analysis to study how migrants from ethnic minority groups settle in psychologically within China. Many such migrants face money and social disadvantages, yet keep moving to cities, which raises a puzzle. Feeling psychologically settled means feeling at home and accepted in the new place. The team test whether close social ties, such as family and community bonds, help explain group differences.

Data came from a national 2017 survey of migrants in China. Minority migrants reported stronger psychological settling than Han migrants, and the gap held across several subgroups and under a second outcome measure. Moving with family, larger households, and active social networks each carried part of that advantage. The authors urge policy to treat ethnic communities as resources, not burdens. They suggest making family and community the main units for support, with plans fitted to each group's situation.

Catalog record

Source: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/PMC13461610