Intergroup Contact, Perceived Attitudes, and Immigrants’ Attitudes Towards Locals: The Case of Immigrants Living in Finland

Elvis Nshom (1)
1. Department of Communication, California State University San Marcos, USA.

Abstract

Research on immigrant-host attitudes in Finland has flourished significantly over the past two decades. However, most of this research has focused on Finnish attitudes towards immigrants. Studies that examine immigrants’ perception of the type of attitudes Finns have towards immigrants and immigrants’ own attitude toward Finns are hard to come by. This study examines the relationship between intergroup contact and the perception immigrants have about the type of attitudes Finns have towards immigrants. In addition, it further explores the extent to which the perception immigrants have of Finnish attitudes towards immigrants predicts immigrants’ attitudes towards Finns. In a sample of 104 immigrants and through the use of surveys, this study finds that positive contact experiences with Finns are positively related to favorable perceptions of Finnish attitudes towards immigrants, while negative contact experiences are negatively related to favorable perceptions of Finnish attitudes towards immigrants in Finland. In addition, the perception immigrants have of Finnish attitudes towards immigrants significantly predicted immigrants’ attitudes towards Finns. Implications and recommendations for future research are also discussed.

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Authors

Author Biography

Elvis Nshom

Elvis Nshom (Ph.D., University of Jyväskylä) Elvis Nshom is a specialist in intercultural communication, interpersonal conflict and relations, and Global Education with several years of work experience in Africa, Europe, Russia, and the US. He currently works at the Department of Communication at California State University San Marcos, USA. His research focuses on Intergroup Conflict and Prejudice, Adaptation and Acculturation, Mutual Attitudes of Majority and Minority Groups, and Media Representation of Minorities.

Nshom, E. (2023). Intergroup Contact, Perceived Attitudes, and Immigrants’ Attitudes Towards Locals: The Case of Immigrants Living in Finland. Journal of Intercultural Communication, 23(4), 146-154. https://doi.org/10.36923/jicc.v23i4.140

Article Details

How to Cite

Nshom, E. (2023). Intergroup Contact, Perceived Attitudes, and Immigrants’ Attitudes Towards Locals: The Case of Immigrants Living in Finland. Journal of Intercultural Communication, 23(4), 146-154. https://doi.org/10.36923/jicc.v23i4.140

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