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Fostered or Challenged? Adolescent Immigrants from Germany in Switzerland

Culture-brokering as Opportunity and Risk for Adolescent Immigrants

Acculturation of Juvenile Immigrants in Israel and Germany

Regulation of Developmental Transitions in Second Generation Immigrants in Germany and Israel

Fostered or Challenged? Adolescent Immigrants from Germany in Switzerland

The aim of this project is to develop a better understanding of German adolescent immigrants’ adaptation in the Swiss context. These adolescents are, like many other adolescent immigrants worldwide, simultaneously confronted with migration-specific challenges (adaptation to a new context, different mentality) and migration-unspecific challenges of growing up (autonomy development, puberty). In contrast to other immigrant groups, however, German adolescent immigrants in Switzerland can often rely on substantial socio-economic resources, which are known to have positive effects on a number of beneficial developmental outcomes. Studied phenomena relate to friendship homophily (i.e., the tendency to form friendships predominantly to members of the own ethnic group), parentification (i.e., adolescents adapt more easily to the new context and increase their status in the family hierarchy by taking on responsibilities normally reserved for their parents), migration-related experiences (language hassles, discrimination), and acculturation orientations. For enabling comparisons with the Swiss native population, a comparative group of Swiss adolescents will be studied who will provide the reference against which all acculturation-unrelated outcomes can be compared. Research on the Swiss adolescents can also provide insights into their attitudes regarding the German adolescents. Results for the highly qualified German group are needed in the increasing global competition for attracting and keeping of highly qualified immigrants and their families.

Funding: Biäsch Foundation

PI and Coordination: Peter F. Titzmann

Culture-brokering as Opportunity and Risk for Adolescent Immigrants

The objective of this study was to investigate the process of acculturation and adjustment of immigrant youth. The study is interdisciplinary reflecting a marriage between micro-sociology and developmental psychology. It attempts to identify the factors that facilitate or disrupt the appropriate adjustment of immigrant youth to the new two host culture countries - Israel and Germany. The focus is on juveniles who immigrated from what was formerly known as the Soviet Union. To study factors that enhance adaptation and adjustment to a new society, a comparative and longitudinal design is being applied. Topics studied, among others, are acculturative hassles (language, discrimination, social adaptation), juvenile delinquency among immigrants, and friendships.

Funding: German Israeli Project Cooperation (DIP-4.1) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

PI: Zvi Eisikovits, Gideon Fishman, Gustavo Mesch, Eva Schmitt-Rodermund, Rainer K. Silbereisen

Coordination: Peter F. Titzmann

Key publications:

Titzmann, P. F., Silbereisen, R. K., & Mesch, G. (2014). Minor delinquency and immigration: A longitudinal study among male adolescents. Developmental Psychology, 50(1), 271-282.

Titzmann, P. F. (2014). Immigrant adolescents’ adaptation to a new context: Ethnic friendship homophily and its predictors. Child Development Perspectives, 8(2), 107-112.

Titzmann, P. F., & Silbereisen, R. K. (2012). Acculturation or development? Autonomy expectations among ethnic German immigrant adolescents and their native German age-mates. Child Development, 83(5), 1640-1654.

Acculturation of Juvenile Immigrants in Israel and Germany

The objective of this study was to investigate the process of acculturation and adjustment of immigrant youth. The study is interdisciplinary reflecting a marriage between micro-sociology and developmental psychology. It attempts to identify the factors that facilitate or disrupt the appropriate adjustment of immigrant youth to the new two host culture countries - Israel and Germany. The focus is on juveniles who immigrated from what was formerly known as the Soviet Union. To study factors that enhance adaptation and adjustment to a new society, a comparative and longitudinal design is being applied. Topics studied, among others, are acculturative hassles (language, discrimination, social adaptation), juvenile delinquency among immigrants, and friendships.

Funding: German Israeli Project Cooperation (DIP-4.1) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

PI: Zvi Eisikovits, Gideon Fishman, Gustavo Mesch, Eva Schmitt-Rodermund, Rainer K. Silbereisen

Coordination: Peter F. Titzmann

Key publications:

Titzmann, P. F., Silbereisen, R. K., & Mesch, G. (2014). Minor delinquency and immigration: A longitudinal study among male adolescents. Developmental Psychology, 50(1), 271-282.

 Titzmann, P. F. (2014). Immigrant adolescents’ adaptation to a new context: Ethnic friendship homophily and its predictors. Child Development Perspectives, 8(2), 107-112.

 Titzmann, P. F., & Silbereisen, R. K. (2012). Acculturation or development? Autonomy expectations among ethnic German immigrant adolescents and their native German age-mates. Child Development, 83(5), 1640-1654.

Regulation of Developmental Transitions in Second Generation Immigrants in Germany and Israel

The overarching aim of this research was to study developmental regulation at crucial transitions in childhood, adolescence and early adulthood for migrants and minorities in comparison with the native population in Germany and Israel. The developmental transitions of interest include formal transitions within the educational system (e.g., entering kindergarten, progression from kindergarten to school) and informal transitions outside the family (e.g., first romantic relations, marriage) because of their influence on acquiring fundamental competencies in coping with normative life challenges. A particular strength of the project is the focus on positive development, i.e., the study of factors that lead towards a better and more optimal adjustment of individuals of specific social groups. In Germany, Russian-Jewish immigrants, ethnic German immigrants from the former Soviet Union, and Turkish migrants will be studied. In Israel, Russian-Jewish immigrants and the Arab population will be studied. A native group will also be interviewed in both countries and will constitute a reference group. Study results of that research collaboration between psychologists and sociologists will be made public for politics, researchers, and media .

Funding: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

PI: Yoav Lavee, Berhard Nauck, Avi Sagi-Schwartz, Rainer K. Silbereisen, Anja Steinbach

Coordination: Peter F. Titzmann

Key publications:

Silbereisen, R. K., Titzmann, P. F., & Shavit, Y., (Eds.) (2014). The Challenges of Diaspora Migration: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Israel and Germany. Farnham, UK, Ashgate.

Iarmolenko, S., Titzmann, P. F., & Silbereisen, R. K. (in press). Bonds to the homeland: Patterns and determinants of women’ transnational travel frequency among three immigrant groups in Germany. International Journal of Psychology.