Factors Associated with the Sense of Community Belonging of Immigrants: Insight from the 2011–2018 Canadian Community Health Survey

Abstract

Canada is one of the world’s important migration poles. For several decades, immigration has contributed to Canada’s ethnic, economic, cultural and diversity development. This paper examines the associated factors of sense of community belonging among immigrants using a pooled data from the 2011–2018 Canadian Community Health Survey. A secondary analysis of the Canadian Community Health Surveys, 2011–2018 was conducted. A subsample of the immigrant population (n = 64,680) was used for this analysis. All analyses were performed in STATA version 18. The article employed descriptive statistics, univariate, and multivariate ordinal logistic regression models to analyze the association between immigrants' sense of community belonging and various demographic and socio-economic predictors. The results indicate that 69.94% of immigrants reported a strong sense of community belonging. Overall, age, life satisfaction, personal income, homeownership, sex, and belonging to a visible minority were positively associated with a stronger sense of community belonging. Conversely, factors like higher household income, higher educational attainment, being single, lack of proficiency in official languages, and experiencing extreme life stress were associated with a weaker sense of community belonging. This research underscores the complex interplay between socio-economic status, personal circumstances, and immigrants' integration into their new communities. It points to the need for targeted policy interventions and community support programs that address the varied needs of immigrants to foster a greater sense of community belonging and facilitate successful integration. The study contributes to the growing body of literature on immigration, integration, and community belonging, emphasizing the importance of considering a wide range of factors in understanding and supporting immigrant populations in Canada.