Exploring the socio-educational integration of migrant children and adolescents
A comparative study across six European countries
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22422135 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Shirley Martin (0000-0001-7784-5907, University College Cork, corresponding author), Elena Rodríguez-Ventosa Herrera (0000-0003-2441-9159, Universidad Pontificia Comillas), Mercedes Fernández García (0000-0003-0077-4682, Universidad Pontificia Comillas), Mercedes Fernández (0000-0003-2055-9605, Universidad Pontificia Comillas), Deirdre Horgan (0000-0003-4684-1975, University College Cork) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-24 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-27 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Inclusive Education (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1360-3116 • E-ISSN: 1464-5173 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/13603116.2026.2679705 |
| OpenAlex | W7162581311 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 59 |
This study investigates migrant adolescents’ integration experiences across six European countries, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, and Spain, drawing on survey data from 9,780 students aged 10–18 participating in the IMMERSE project. Using multivariate statistical analysis, the study examines school belonging, social support, language competence, intercultural friendships, and well-being, identifying four integration profiles: Competent but Isolated, Vulnerable Learners, Socially Connected, and Resilient Multiculturalists. The findings demonstrate that integration is not a linear process, but a dynamic interplay of individual agency and contextual opportunity structures shaped by national migration histories, policy environments, and school systems. Across all profiles, a deficit in school belonging emerges as a critical concern, underscoring the need for more inclusive school cultures, teacher training, and relational pedagogies. The findings highlight the importance of listening to adolescents’ voices and developing policies that respect their agency in shaping integration journeys.
Comparative education · Comparative research · Cultural diversity · Immigration · Qualitative research · Social integration · Study abroad · Education and experiences of immigrants and refugees · Parental Involvement in Education · Youth Education and Societal Dynamics
The Resilience of Students with an Immigrant Background
Resilience and mental health
The Concept of Integration as an Analytical Tool and as a Policy Concept
How all students can belong and achieve
Child friendship patterns at a refugee center in Greece
Cooperative and competitive school climate
Safety, Belonging and Success in Education for Refugees in Europe
Refugee students' perspectives on inclusive and exclusive school experiences in Austria
MiCREATE Project. Migrant children and communities in a transforming Europe ( Proyecto MiCreate. Infancia y comunidades migrantes en una Europa en transformación )
Procesos de integración y políticas (Locales)
The Hidden Curriculum of Monolingualism
Cultural diversity climate in school
Psychological and social adjustment in refugee adolescents
School integration of immigrant children in Belgium
Supporting languages
Young refugees in education
Beyond Legal Status
Testing the social-ecological factors of school belonging in native-born, first-generation, and second-generation Australian students
Special issue
Integration of migrant children in educational systems in Spain
Advocacy and surveillance
Refugee and migrant children’s views of integration and belonging in school in Ireland – and the role of micro- and meso-level interactions
Can peer mediation foster migrant students’ inclusion in mainstream classrooms? An exploratory case study
Investigating the sources of teacher intercultural self-efficacy
Multidimensionality in the Integration of First- and Second-Generation Migrants in Europe
Refugee Integration in Canada, Europe, and the United States
Using attachment and relational perspectives to understand adaptation and resilience among immigrant and refugee youth
Policy and Practice in Language Support for Newly Arrived Migrant Children in Ireland and Spain
Starting out
Sociological Theories of Immigration
A Descriptive Study of the Schooling and Higher Education Reforms in Response to the Refugees’ Influx into Greece
The Happiness Experiences of Refugee Children at School
Development of anti-immigrant attitudes in adolescence
Examining the psychological well-being of refugee children and the role of friendship and bullying
Longing to belong
The Problem With Resilience
Integration of Recently Arrived Underage Refugees
Working with Immigrant Children and Their Families
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |