Acculturation Among Newly Arrived Immigrants in Sweden

This study investigates the process of opinion change among newly arrived immigrants in Sweden, focusing on how their opinions on various moral issues change over time in relation to the opinions of the native-born Swedish population, i.e., acculturation. Previous studies suffer from several deficits, including a reliance on cross-sectional designs that impede causal claims, and the tendency to measure opinions on only a few, or even just one, issue, missing important nuances. Most severe, however, is that the opinions of the native-born population—the theoretical endpoint of acculturation processes—are not explicitly articulated or included in the analysis. Instead, there is often an implicit assumption that the Western native-born hold the most liberal or progressive opinions, toward which all immigrants are expected to move. This view hinders nuanced analysis, risks exaggerating cultural differences and tensions, and misinforms public policy and debates.

Using longitudinal data from a sample of 1,209 immigrants from 111 countries, surveyed in 2021 and 2024 in Sweden, we analyse opinion change on 34 different issues, with an emphasis on areas where significant cultural differences exist between non-Western immigrants and Western societies such as gender equality and sexual and reproductive rights. We additionally compare immigrants’ opinion change with the opinions of native-born Swedes, gathered from external sources. Preliminary findings indicate that, within three years, immigrants’ opinions shift modestly toward more socially liberal positions. Importantly, opinion change across different issues is positively correlated with the average opinions of native-born Swedes. This suggests acculturation, as immigrants’ opinion change is influenced by the positions of the Swedish population. By addressing limitations in previous research, this study offers new insights into the early stages of acculturation as a dynamic process. It highlights a movement toward social cohesion and underscores the importance of not assuming opinions among either immigrants or the native-born population.