Influence Of Socio-Structural Characteristics Of Intergroup Relations On The Group Identification And Adaptation Of Migrant Children

Based on Social Identity Theory and Acculturation Theory, the research was conducted to explore predictors of adaptation of migrant children from rural area to cities from the perspective of group relations. We adopt the concept of socio-structural characteristics of intergroup relations (permeability, stability, legitimacy) which so far hasn't been studied in the background of China.Participants were migrant children in Shanghai among age of 12 to15, 252 of them from public school and 139 of them from special school for migrant students only. The research included two parts. The first part investigated the correlation among socio-structural characteristics of intergroup relations, migrant children's social identity and adaptation in city via questionnaire and scale, looking into the path model of these variables. In the second part, an experiment was conducted to investigate how the perception of permeability of group boundaries affect migrant children's adaptation in city using different text material (i.e. introduction) to priming participants' expectation of the possibility of their becoming city children in the future. The results showed that:(1) Perception of permeable group boundaries, legitimate and unstable status helps to improve migrant children's adaptation in city.(2) Out-group identification functions as mediator of permeability, legitimacy and migrant children's life satisfaction while in-group identification functions as mediator of status stability and life satisfaction.(3) Both in-group identification and out-group identification have positive significance to migrant children's adaptation.(4) Compared to special school for migrant student only, public school is a better choice for migrant children.