Early Partner Choices of Immigrants: The Effect of Preferences, Opportunities and Parents on Dating a Native

TY - JOUR

T1 - Early Partner Choices of Immigrants: The Effect of Preferences, Opportunities and Parents on Dating a Native

AU - van Zandvliet, P.I.

AU - Kalmijn, M.

AU - Verbakel, E.

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - This study focuses on the partner choices of immigrant adolescents who are involved in a romantic relationship. We formulate hypotheses about the effect of immigrants' preferences, parental influence and structural effects of the school and neighbourhood on the likelihood of dating a native partner versus a non-native partner. Using unique data from the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Survey in Four European Countries (CILS4EU) which was conducted in over 100 schools in each country among adolescents of around 14-year-old and their parents (n = 1896), we show, first, that more conservative immigrant adolescents are less likely to date a native partner. In addition, parental influence is demonstrated by gender-specific effects of religious background and by positive effects of parents' social and structural integration. Meeting opportunities with natives at school and in the neighbourhood are prominent factors in explaining the choice of dating a native partner.

AB - This study focuses on the partner choices of immigrant adolescents who are involved in a romantic relationship. We formulate hypotheses about the effect of immigrants' preferences, parental influence and structural effects of the school and neighbourhood on the likelihood of dating a native partner versus a non-native partner. Using unique data from the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Survey in Four European Countries (CILS4EU) which was conducted in over 100 schools in each country among adolescents of around 14-year-old and their parents (n = 1896), we show, first, that more conservative immigrant adolescents are less likely to date a native partner. In addition, parental influence is demonstrated by gender-specific effects of religious background and by positive effects of parents' social and structural integration. Meeting opportunities with natives at school and in the neighbourhood are prominent factors in explaining the choice of dating a native partner.

KW - dating

KW - immigrants

KW - partner choice

KW - adolescence

KW - SSCI

U2 - 10.1080/1369183X.2014.948391

DO - 10.1080/1369183X.2014.948391

M3 - Article

SN - 1369-183X

VL - 41

SP - 772

EP - 794

JO - Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies

JF - Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies

IS - 5

ER -