Nuclear family and social capital of refugees in Austria
| Published date | 01 February 2023 |
| Author | Judith Kohlenberger,Bernhard Rengs,Isabella Buber‐Ennser |
| Date | 01 February 2023 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/imig.13073 |
1Institute for Social Policy, Vienna University
of Economics and Business, Vienna, Austria
2Vienna Institute of Demography/Austrian
Academy of Sciences, Wittgenstein Centre
for Demography and Global Human Capital
(IIASA, OeAW, University of Vienna), Vienna,
Austria
Correspondence
Judith Kohlenberger, Department of
Socioeconomics, Institute for Social Policy,
Vienna University of Economics and Business
(WU), Welthandelsplatz 1, 1020 Vienna,
Austria.
Email: judith.kohlenberger@wu.ac.at
Abstract
This article provides insights into the role of the nuclear
family for refugees' social capital in Austria, with a focus
on gender-specific differences. We use a multimethod
approach, based on quantitative data from a survey with 548
refugees from Syria and Afghanistan and semi-structured
group discussions (N= 17 informants). In our analysis, we
study frequency of contacts in first language and in German,
as proxies for the bonding and bridging social capital. Mari-
tal status, childlessness and family work were identified
as important factors: Frequency of contact substantially
varied by gender and family context. Of all surveyed groups,
married childless women and married men with children had
the least contacts in both languages. Although an unequal
distribution of childcare may limit women's time resources,
we observed a positive association between motherhood
and frequency of contact in German.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Nuclear family and social capital of refugees in
Austria
Judith Kohlenberger1 | Bernhard Rengs2 | Isabella Buber-Ennser2
DOI:10.1111/imig.13073
Accepted: 13 September 2022
INTRODUCTION
Despite the significance of social capital for refugees' integration into the host society, which has received height-
ened and overdue attention in academic research (Borsch et al., 2021; Eisnecker & Schacht, 2016), the role of family
as a contributing or impeding factor remains under-researched (Kalkum et al., 2019). Family can be seen as bonding
capital (referring to the community context) but may also help to acquire (or impede) bridging capital (relating to
members of the host society) and foster (or impede) social links (pertaining to the structures of the state; Ager &
Strang, 2008; Putnam, 2000). Our study aims to explore the role that family status plays for refugees' social contacts
in the host society.
220
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use,
distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
© 2022 The Authors. International Migration published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Organization for Migration.
Int Migr. 2023;61:220–238.wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/imig
REFUGEES’ FAMILIES AND SOCIAL CAPITAL221
When Europe witnessed large inflows of persons seeking asylum in 2015, Austria was the destination of a
substantial number of asylum seekers from Syria and Afghanistan (Eurostat, 2020). Using quantitative and qualitative
data, we examine bonding and bridging capital of refugees in Austria, by focusing on the role of the nuclear family.
In our quantitative analysis, we explore the social capital of these refugees by family status and gender, measured
through frequency of contacts in the first language as well as through contacts in German, that is the language
spoken in the host country. Qualitative analyses based on group discussions in Arabic explore the quality, intensity
and forms of social capital of female and male refugees by family status. In particular, we focus on the role of children
for establishing contact with members of the host society.
Refugee women are a growing group in Austria, as in other European countries. They display high levels of
post-migration fertility, which makes their families a central factor in the arrival and integration process. Female
refugees have been shown to be a particularly vulnerable group, yet they also act as “multipliers of integration” by
enhancing the well-being, educational attainment and social capital of their children, their families and indeed the
whole community. While prior research indicates the relevance of family background in the country of origin and the
impact of the “tripe disadvantage” of family and household duties for women's inclusion in the host country (Liebig
& Tronstad, 2018), we still lack detailed knowledge on the precise impact of family status and children on refugee
women's social contacts. This pertains in particular to the “long summer of migration,” in the wake of which or via
later family reunification schemes many Syrian and Afghan refugee women arrived in European host countries. Our
study aims to contribute to the growing literature on the social and structural inclusion of these refugees from the
2015/2016 forced migration inflows. Furthermore, it adds to family research by studying gender-specific integration
drivers and barriers originating in the particular family context of refugees.
BACKGROUND
A growing body of literature recognizes the active role of refugees in “influencing the social environment and in
constructing social reality” (Beresnevièiûtë, 2003, p. 98). A crucial way in which refugees achieve this is through
the formation of social capital. Following Bourdieu's seminal definition (Bourdieu, 1986), social capital is essentially
defined as the ability to secure (immediate or deferred) benefits by virtue of membership in a specific social structure,
such as professional social networks, circles of friends and family or (cross-)community ties (Portes, 1998).
In more recent research, social capital is broadly differentiated into bonding social capital, referring to close social
ties within a respective community and bridging social capital, that is social ties between one close-knit community to
another (Putnam, 2000). De Souza Briggs (2003) suggests the terms “getting-by capital” and “getting-ahead capital,”
respectively, for these two essential types of social capital, a terminology that reflects their differential functions
for social inclusion. Bonding capital, typically referring to strong social ties among family members or friends within
the same homogenous community, serves as social glue. For refugees, social bonds within their community offer
emotional support and fulfil an important function for their physical and mental well-being, mitigating the forced
migration experience and acculturation stress (de Souza Briggs, 2003; Goodson & Phillimore, 2008). Getting-ahead
capital, on the other hand, refers to weaker social ties between members of heterogeneous groups, such as business
contacts or friends from different ethnic/socio-demographic backgrounds. It can serve as a means for social progress,
as it provides opportunities that are typically not found by means of bonding capital. For refugees, bridging capital
is essential because it involves contacts to members of the host society, which can foster economic integration and
informal language acquisition.
Investing in and enhancing both forms of social capital is key for refugees to achieve sustained social inclusion,
which can broadly be understood as their participation in different levels of the social sphere (Ager & Strang, 2008).
Frequently, social inclusion is defined and measured in negative terms, that is the absence of barriers that prevent
refugees from becoming members of the host society (Rawal, 2008). In quantitative research, the number and
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