Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Assessing Effect of Bridging Social Capital on the Attitudes Toward Immigrants in the U.S.: Does Race Matter?

  • Published:
Race and Social Problems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examines how bridging social capital affects attitudes toward immigrants in the U.S. Bridging social capital, a term which refers to social capital across heterogeneous groups of people beyond inner circles, might play an important role in understanding people’s way of perceiving difference and diversity. Considering inequality of social capital for racial minorities in the U.S., this study also examines whether the impact of bridging social capital on attitude towards immigrants varies by different racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. The analysis was based on the 2006 U.S. Social Capital Community Survey (SCCS) data set. A multinomial regression analysis and a heterogeneous choice model were conducted to test the aims of this study. The findings indicate that people who have a higher level of bridging social capital are more likely to hold favorable attitudes toward immigrants. In particular, the positive association between ‘trust towards others who are different’ and attitudes toward immigrants varied across racial groups: the positive effect becomes weaker for African Americans and other races, compared to whites. Overall, our findings provide important knowledge for understanding public attitudes toward immigrants in relation to bridging social capital. Moreover, the findings on inequality of social capital returns among minorities demonstrate the importance of understanding structural racial discrimination toward racial minorities in American society. Special attention should be given to underlying mechanisms.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ajrouch, K. J., Antonucci, T., & Janevic, M. R. (2001). Social networks among Blacks and Whites: The interaction between race and age. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 56(2), S112–S118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Banulescu-Bogdan, N., & Benton, M. (2017). In search of common values amid large-scale immigrant integration pressures. Washington, DC: Migration Policy Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barceló, J. (2016). Attitudes toward immigrants and immigration policy in Asia and the Pacific: A quantitative assessment of current theoretical models beyond Western countries. Asian Journal of Political Science, 24(1), 87–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bean, F. D., & Bell-Rose, S. (1999). Introduction: Immigration and its relation to race and ethnicity in the United States. In F. D. Bean & S. Bell-Rose (Eds.), Immigration and opportunity: Race, ethnicity, and employment in the United States (pp. 1–28). New York, NY: Russell Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bilodeau, A., & White, S. (2016). Trust among recent immigrants in Canada: Levels, roots and implications for immigrant integration. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 42(8), 1317–1333. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2015.1093411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brenner, J. & Fertig, M. (2006). Identifying the determinants of attitudes towards immigrants: A structural cross-country analysis. IZA DP No. 2306. Institute for the Study of Labor.

  • Card, D., Dustmann, C., & Preston, I. (2009). Immigration, wages, and compositional amenities. National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) Working Paper 15521. Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research.

  • Chavez, D. (2016). An analysis of American attitudes toward immigration. Retrieved from http://home.uchicago.edu/~danielchavez/paper.pdf

  • Coenders, M., & Scheepers, P. (2003). The effect of education on nationalism and ethnic exclusionism, an international comparison. Political Psychology, 24(2), 313–343.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, J. S. (1988). Social capital in the creation of human capital. American Journal of Sociology, 94, S95–S120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Côté, R. R., Andersen, R., & Erikson, B. H. (2015). Social capital and ethnic tolerance: The opposing effects of diversity and competition. In Y. Li (Ed.), Handbook of research methods and applications in social capital (pp. 91–106). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • De Figueiredo, R. J. P., & Elkins, Z. (2003). Are patriots bigots? An inquiry into the vices of in-group pride. American Journal of Political Science, 47(1), 171–188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DiPrete, T. A., Gelman, A., McCormick, T., Teitler, J., & Zheng, T. (2011). Segregation in social networks based on acquaintanceship and trust. American Journal of Sociology, 116(4), 1234–1283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dovidio, J. F., Brigham, J. C., Johnson, B. T., & Gaertner, S. L. (1996). Stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination: Another look. In C. N. Macrae, C. Stangor, & M. Hewstone (Eds.), Stereotypes and stereotyping (pp. 276–319). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunham, R., & Wilson, G. (2007). Race, within-family social capital, and school dropout: An analysis of Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians. Sociological Spectrum, 27(2), 207–221. https://doi.org/10.1080/02732170601123435.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dziadkowiec, O. (2011). Social capital and self reported health status in 20 U.S. communities (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from http://soar.wichita.edu/bitstream/handle/10057/3926/d11003_Dziadkowiec.pdf?sequence=1

  • Ervasti, H., Fridberg, T., & Hjerm, M. (2008). Nordic social attitudes in a European perspective. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Esses, V. M., Dovidio, J. F., & Hodson, G. (2002). Public attitudes toward immigration in the United States and Canada in response to the September 11, 2001 “Attack on America”. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 2(1), 69–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fennelly, K., & Federico, C. (2008). Rural residence as a determinant of attitudes toward US immigration policy. International Migration, 46(1), 151–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ford, R. (2017). Attitudes towards immigration in Europe: Myths and realities. Retrieved from https://www.europeansocialsurvey.org/docs/findings/IE_Handout_FINAL.pdf

  • Garcia, C., & Bass, L. E. (2007). American identity and attitudes toward English language policy initiatives. Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare, 34(1), 63–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia, C. E., & Davidson, T. (2013). Are rural people more anti-immigrant than urban people? A comparison of attitudes toward immigration in the U.S. Journal of Rural Social Sciences, 2013, 80–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Givens, T. E. (2007). Immigrant integration in Europe: Empirical research. Annual Review of Political Science, 10, 67–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hainmueller, J., & Hiscox, M. J. (2007). Educated preferences: Explaining attitudes toward immigration in Europe. International Organization, 61(02), 399–442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haubert, J., & Fussell, E. (2006). Explaining pro-immigrant sentiment in the U.S.: Social class, cosmopolitanism, and perceptions of immigrants. International Migration Review, 40(3), 489–507.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hellwig, T., & Sinno, A. (2017). Different groups, different threats: public attitudes towards immigrants. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 43(3), 339–358.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hero, R. E. (2003). Social capital and racial inequality in America. Perspectives on Politics, 1(1), 113–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herreros, F., & Criado, H. (2009). Social trust, social capital and perceptions of immigration. Political Studies, 57(2), 337–355.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hitlan, R. T., Carrillo, K., Zárate, M. A., & Aikman, S. N. (2007). Attitudes toward immigrant groups and the September 11 terrorist attacks. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 13(2), 135–152. https://doi.org/10.1080/10781910701270970.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins, D. J. (2010). Politicized places: Explaining where and when immigrants provoke opposition. American Political Science Review, 104, 40–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kao, G., & Rutherford, L. T. (2007). Does social capital still matter? Immigrant minority disadvantage in school-specific social capital and its effects on academic achievement. Sociological Perspectives, 50(1), 27–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kunovich, R. M. (2009). The sources and consequences of national identification. American Sociological Review, 74(4), 573–593.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lancee, B. (2016). Job search methods and immigrant earnings: A longitudinal analysis of the role of bridging social capital. Ethnicities, 16(3), 349–367.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leung, M. R., Chin, J. J., & Petrescu-Prahova, M. (2016). Involving immigrant religious organizations in HIV/AIDS prevention: The role of bonding and bridging social capital. Social Science and Medicine, 162, 201–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.06.042.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Licata, L., & Klein, O. (2002). Does European citizenship breed xenophobia? European identification as a predictor of intolerance towards immigrants. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 12(5), 323–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, N. (2000). Inequality in social capital. Contemporary Sociology, 29(6), 785–795.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Long, J. S., & Freese, J. (2014). Regression models for categorical dependent variables using stata (3rd ed.). College Station, TX: Stata Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maddens, B., Billiet, J., & Beerten, R. (2000). National identity and the attitude towards foreigners in multi-national states: The case of Belgium. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 26(1), 45–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Markaki, Y., & Longhi, S. (2013). What determines attitudes to immigration in European countries? An analysis at the regional level. Migration Studies, 1(3), 311–337. https://doi.org/10.1093/migration/mnt015.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, S., & Day, J. C. (2010). Race, gender, and the invisible hand of social capital. Sociology Compass, 4(7), 532–543.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McPherson, M., Smith-Lovin, L., & Brashears, M. E. (2006). Social isolation in America: Changes in core discussion networks over two decades. American Sociological Review, 71(3), 353–375.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McPherson, M., Smith-Lovin, L., & Cook, J. M. (2001). Birds of a feather: Homophily in social networks. Annual Review of Sociology, 27, 415–444.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Menahem, G. (2011). The impact of community bonding and bridging social capital on educational performance in Israel. Urban Education, 46(5), 1100–1130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Migration Policy Institute. (2016). Frequently requested statistics on immigrants and immigration in the United States. Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, J. (2014). The decline of trust in the United States: A look at the trend and what can be done about it. Medium.

  • Nunnally, S. C. (2012). Trust in Black America: Race, discrimination, and politics. New York, NY: NYU Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • OECD-UNDESA. (2013). World migration in figures. Paris: OECD Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paas, T., & Demidova, O. (2014). What explains people’s attitudes towards immigrants? A comparative study of Estonia and Russia. Working Paper No. 94-2014

  • Paas, T. & Halapuu, V. (2012). Attitudes towards immigrants and the integration of ethnically diverse societies. NORFACE MIGRATION Discussion Paper No. 2012-23. Paris, France: OECD Publishing.

  • Pachter, L. M., Bernstein, B. A., Szalacha, L. A., & Coll, C. G. (2010). Perceived racism and discrimination in children and youths: An exploratory study. Health and Social Work, 35(1), 61–69. https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/35.1.61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paolini, S., Hewstone, M., Cairns, E., & Voci, A. (2004). Effects of direct and indirect cross-group friendships on judgments of Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland: The mediating role of an anxiety-reduction mechanism. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 30(6), 770–786.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parks-Yancy, R. (2006). The effects of social group membership and social capital resources on careers. Journal of Black Studies, 36(4), 515–545.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pettigrew, T. F. (1997). Generalized intergroup contact effects on prejudice. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 23(2), 173–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pew Research Center. (2015). U.S. immigrant population projected to rise, even as share falls among Hispanics, Asians.

  • Putnam, R. D. (1995). Bowling alone: America’s declining social capital. Journal of Democracy, 6(1), 65–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.

    Google Scholar 

  • Putnam, R. D., & Campbell, D. (2010). American grace: How religion divides and unites us. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.

    Google Scholar 

  • Putnam, R. D., & Goss, K. A. (2002). Democracies in flux: The evolution of social capital in contemporary society. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Raijman, R., Davidov, E., Schmidt, P., & Hochman, O. (2008). What does a nation owe non-citizens? International Journal of Comparative Sociology, 49(2–3), 195–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rydgren, J., Sofi, D., & Hällsten, M. (2013). Interethnic friendship, trust, and tolerance: Findings from two north Iraqi cities. American Journal of Sociology, 118(6), 1650–1694.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schüller, S. (2016). The effects of 9/11 on attitudes toward immigration and the moderating role of education. Kyklos, 69(4), 604–632. https://doi.org/10.1111/kykl.12122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, S. S. (2010). Race and trust. Annual Review of Sociology, 36, 453–475.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, P., Funk, C., & Clark, A. (2007). Americans and social trust: Who, where and why. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, D. (2018). How immigration became so controversial. The Atlantic, Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/02/why-immigration-divides/552125/

  • United Nations [UN]. (2017). International migration report 2017. New York, NY: United Nations.

    Google Scholar 

  • Uslaner, E. M. (2002). The moral foundations of trust. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Verhaeghe, P.-P., Van der Bracht, K., & Van de Putte, B. (2015). Inequalities in social capital and their longitudinal effects on the labour market entry. Social Networks, 40, 174–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, M. (2001). Chapter: 7. Contemporary immigration and dynamics of race and ethnicity. In N. J. Smelser, W. J. Wilson, & F. Mitchell (Eds.), Division of behavioral and social sciences and education; commission on behavioral and social sciences and education (pp. 200–242). Washington, DC: National Research Council.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Inclusive Welfare Research Group, Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, Sejong-si, Republic of Korea

    Yoosun Chu

  2. School of Social Work, College of Health and Human Performance, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA

    Jie Yang

Authors
  1. Yoosun Chu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jie Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yoosun Chu.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chu, Y., Yang, J. Assessing Effect of Bridging Social Capital on the Attitudes Toward Immigrants in the U.S.: Does Race Matter?. Race Soc Probl 11, 212–224 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12552-019-09263-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12552-019-09263-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation