Social integration is a crucial societal task and challenge in securing the quality of life for immigrant children. Since the 1960s, Western European societies have experienced a substantial influx of immigrants, making it increasingly important to gain knowledge on what can promote integration among these groups. Research indicates that interethnic contact is vital for social, cultural, and economic integration. It is often argued that active participation in associations fosters trust, social capital, and social cohesion, serving as vital meeting points across social and cultural boundaries. Thus, associations hold the potential to facilitate the interethnic contact that scholars highlight as crucial for the integration of immigrant children.

Nevertheless, the research on immigrant children’s association participation is sparse. Studies among adults however show large gaps in participation rates between immigrants and natives. This is partly explained by cultural and institutional differences from their countries of origin, as immigrants from countries with weaker associational cultures and lower participation rates tend to engage less. In addition, previous research indicates that there may be specific barriers to participation related to parental knowledge and resources among immigrant children. Relatedly, other studies have documented intergenerational transmissions of participation norms.

To promote inter-ethnic interaction (and thereby integration), it is crucial that the associations in which immigrant children participate function as cross-cultural meeting places. However, we know quite little about the ethnic composition of the associations in which Western European children participate. Research do however show that associations are often ethnically segregated, as immigrants and natives engage in different types of associations. Furthermore, there are indications of social segregation, as a large part of the ethnic gaps in participation rates appears to be explained by variations in socio-economic factors and intergenerational transmissions of participation norms.

In my PhD project, ‘Mapping Association Participation Among Immigrant Children in Western Europe’, I will use a combination of survey data and administrative register data to gain insights into the association participation patterns of immigrant children in Western Europe, examining variations across different socioeconomic, parental, and ethnic backgrounds and identifying barriers to participation.

The project is part of the larger research project ‘Association Participation among Immigrant Children: A Vehicle for Integration?’, led by Associate Professor Hans-Peter Y. Qvist.