Ethnicity, interpersonal relations, and adaptation among families of european migrants to australia

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Abstract
A sample of 139 families (457 members) from several European countries were studied by questionnaire at the time they appeared for interview with immigration officers in various Australian consulates. Over half of this pretest sample (78 families, 239 members) replied to a mail questionnaire following their arrival in Australia. Prior to migration, high socioeconomic status was associated with high solidarity, high fragmentation, and low role differentiation within the family. Premigration socioeconomic status was also correlated with postmigration socio‐economic status, group membership, number of pleasant experiences, and (negatively with) use of medical services in Australia. Prior to migration, high anxiety and low self esteem were associated with high need for affiliation, coupled with a tendency toward personal dislikes and transitory interpersonal relations. The measures of self esteem and anxiety were independent of socioeconomic status. A pattern of community involvement and family permeability in the pretest was associated with posttest membership in community groups. The number of pleasant experiences encountered in Australia was correlated positively with affiliative behaviour in the pretest, but negatively with an expressed need for affiliation.

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