Acculturation of rural–urban migrants in China: Strategies and determinants

Abstract

The acculturation of domestic migrants has rarely been explored. Drawing on the bi-dimensional theory of acculturation, this study examined the strategies and determinants of urban acculturation among rural–urban migrants in China. Using data from a large survey project, we conducted latent class analysis (LCA), K-means clustering analysis, and midpoint scores analysis. Our findings suggested that the acculturation strategies of rural–urban migrants generally conform to Berry’s framework, with integration, assimilation, and separation as the dominant patterns. However, we identified a moderate integration pattern, instead of the marginalization pattern, through the application of LCA and K-means clustering analysis. Additionally, the acculturation strategies identified using the three methods exhibited a moderate degree of consistency. Furthermore, socioeconomic status, language usage, cultural differences, and social interaction play a significant role in shaping the acculturation of rural–urban migrants in cities. This study demonstrates that the acculturation of rural–urban migrants in host cities shares certain similarities with that of international migrants. However, it is also important to note the unique characteristics of rural–urban migrants.