The urban adaptation and adaptation process of urban migrant children: A qualitative study

Abstract

This article employs qualitative research methods to explore the urban adaptation and adaptation processes of Chinese migrant children. Through twenty-one in-depth interviews with migrant children, the researchers discovered: The participant migrant children showed a fairly high level of adaptation to the city; their process of urban adaptation emerged as three categories: the U-Type, the J-type, and the "flat line" type. Also explored were long-term acquisition of explicit behaviors, implicit notions, adaptation to the socio-cultural environment, and success in education as difficult aspects of adaptation. After comparing these three processes, the research team developed a theory of migrant children urban adaptation. It hypothesizes that during the urban adaptation process, migrant children will encounter four stages of development: excitement and curiosity, shock and resistance, exploration and adaptation, and finally integration and assimilation.Keywords migrant children, urban adaptation, urban adaptation development stages, qualitative research 摘要 本研究采用质性方法对中国流动儿童城市适应状况及过程进行了探讨。通过 对21名流动儿童的深度访谈发现：受访流动儿童城市适应状况较好；流动儿童城市 适应过程呈现三种类型：U型、J型、水平线型；长期习得的外显行为、内隐观念、 人文环境和学习成绩是几个较难适应的维度。在对三种适应过程比较后，提出了流 动儿童的城市适应过程理论：流动儿童在城市适应过程中会经历四个发展阶段：兴 奋与好奇、震惊与抗拒、探索与顺应、整合与融入。

An experimental study of the effect of intergroup contact on attitudes in urban China

“…Our results are consistent with recent research in education that has indicated that social interactions in schools may assist rural–urban migrant children to adapt to their new urban environments (Liu et al, 2009). Our results also support the conjecture made by Nielsen et al (2006) that programmes aimed at facilitating social and spatial integration of urban and rural–urban migrant children with the view to promoting intergroup friendships may provide a promising path forward in terms of reducing prejudice between the two groups.…”

Acculturation, Economic Stress, Social Relationships and School Satisfaction Among Migrant Children in Urban China

“…Migrant children accompany their parents to urban centers, searching for better educational and future career opportunities. Despite their strong desire to stay and become 'permanent residents' in new cities, the adaptation and acculturation process is often long and stressful (Liu et al 2009). Due to economic and cultural discrepancies between urban and rural regions, migrant children often experience social exclusion and prejudice when adjusting to city life.…”

“…For example, the successful experience of adjusting into the host culture creates pleasant feelings of joy, satisfaction, and gratification. On the contrary, the experience of being excluded and marginalized brings feelings of uncertainty and fear (Liu et al 2009). Further, the process of acculturation plays a central role in various aspects of youth development including academic achievement and educational aspirations (Ali 2008;Carranza et al 2009).…”

“…Levels of adjustment were inferred from psychological and emotional state from migrant experience (Liu et al 2009). Examples were found of successful integration and assimilation.…”

Increasing Social Inclusion for the Children of Migrant Workers in Shanghai, China: A Four-Year Longitudinal Study of a Non-Governmental, Volunteer-Led, After-School Program

“…Two articles deserve special mention because of their relevance to this investigation. Liu et al (2009) use a qualitative grounded-theory method to uncover a multi-step framework for understanding the process of assimilation of rural migrant children into urban environments. Finally, Lan (2014) gives much needed clarity to the characteristics of second generation migrant children.…”