Sociology: Adolescence is a critical period for views on immigration

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Adolescence is a key stage for the development of attitudes toward immigration. Individuals without a college education or vocational qualifications, in particular, tend to become more concerned about immigration during this crucial phase in life – when they enter the labor market, start a family, and may be faced with the threat of unemployment. This pattern can be explained by increased competition on the one hand, and psychological adaptation mechanisms on the other. These findings have far-reaching implications for researchers and policymakers.

Fabian Kratz: Do Concerns about Immigration Change after Adolescence? How Education and Critical Life Events Affect Concerns about Immigration. European Sociological Review, 2021