Acculturation of rural-urban migrants in China: Strategies and determinants

The acculturation of domestic migrants has rarely been explored. Drawing on the bi-dimensional theory of acculturation, this study examined the strategies and determinants of urban acculturation among rural-urban migrants in China. Using data from a large survey project, we conducted latent class analysis (LCA), K-means clustering analysis, and midpoint scores analysis. Our findings suggested that the acculturation strategies of rural-urban migrants generally conform to Berry's framework, with integration, assimilation, and separation as the dominant patterns. However, we identified a moderate integration pattern, instead of the marginalization pattern, through the application of LCA and K-means clustering analysis. Additionally, the acculturation strategies identified using the three methods exhibited a moderate degree of consistency. Furthermore, socioeconomic status, language usage, cultural differences, and social interaction play a significant role in shaping the acculturation of rural-urban migrants in cities. This study demonstrates that the acculturation of rural-urban migrants in host cities shares certain similarities with that of international migrants. However, it is also important to note the unique characteristics of rural-urban migrants.