Premium
Marginal and happy? The need for uniqueness predicts the adjustment of marginal immigrants
Author(s) -
Debrosse Régine,
Sablonnière Roxane,
RossignacMilon Maya
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
british journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 2044-8309
pISSN - 0144-6665
DOI - 10.1111/bjso.12113
Subject(s) - immigration , uniqueness , happiness , psychology , life satisfaction , social psychology , political science , law
Marginalization is often presented as the strategy associated with the worst adjustment for immigrants. This study identifies a critical variable that buffers marginal immigrants from the negative effects of marginalization on adjustment: The need for uniqueness. In three studies, we surveyed immigrants recruited on university campuses ( n = 119, n = 116) and in the field ( n = 61). Among marginal immigrants, a higher need for uniqueness predicted higher self‐esteem (Study 1), affect (Study 2), and life satisfaction (Study 3), and marginally higher happiness (Study 2) and self‐esteem (Study 3). No relationship between the need for uniqueness and adjustment was found among non‐marginal immigrants. The adaptive value of the need for uniqueness for marginal immigrants is discussed.