Friends or Foes: Social and Psychological Adaptation of Fellow Nationals in Russia

The paper describes the findings of an empirical study of migrants-members of the government program, which aims at assisting the voluntary resettlement of fellow nationals living abroad to the Russian Federation. It identifies the motivations of decision-making by fellow nationals and their families concerning the resettlement to Russia. The authors establish the common and specific laws of the socio-psychological adaptation of this category of migrants in the host society, depending on the voluntariness/forcedness of their resettlement, and determine the system of factors contributing to the success of the socio-psychological adaptation of fellow nationals in the new environment. Among the ethno-cultural and socio-psychological factors, there are the cultural-value proximity of fellow nationals to the host population, a positive image of Russia and the country of origin, a positive social (ethnic) identity, the preparedness to interact with the new environment. Among the socio-geographic factors, there are satisfaction with the climate and environment of the places of settlement, their geographic proximity to the infrastructure of the district, regional and capital centers. The research proves the system-determining influence on the success of adaptation of individual-personal factors, such as awareness of personal responsibility for the choices made, the ability to perceive one’s life as meaningful and important, the open character of communications; the importance of the values of “openness to changes” and “self-identity”, the predominant use of constructive problem-solving and emotionally-focused coping strategies, a strong desire for professional and social self-fulfillment.