How Acculturation Affects Settlement Intentions of Chinese Rural-Urban Migrants: The Mediating Roles of Socioeconomic Status and Psychological Well-Being

Rural-urban migrants in China inevitably experience a process of acculturation, which has been identified as a key factor influencing migration and settlement patterns. However, few studies have addressed the mechanisms through which acculturation affects the settlement intentions of Chinese rural-urban migrants. Using data from a survey of rural-urban migrants in 2015-2016 in Guangdong, China, this study explores the mediating roles of socioeconomic status (SES) and psychological well-being in the relationship between acculturation and settlement intentions. Acculturation is considered as a multidimensional (including changes of cultural practices, values, and identifications) and bicultural (with orientation towards both the culture of original rural society and the host culture of urban society) process. Using latent class analysis, the study identifies four categories of acculturation, including two subtypes of integration and two subtypes of separation. Our findings indicate that migrants in both integration subtypes are more inclined to return home and seek nonagricultural jobs compared to those in the separation subtypes. The settlement effect of acculturation is partially mediated by socioeconomic status (assessed by perceived SES and income) and psychological well-being (assessed by life satisfaction). Integrated migrants generally enjoy higher levels of socioeconomic status and psychological well-being, through which acculturation increases their likelihood of returning home to engage in nonagricultural jobs. For integrated migrants, rural culture not only attracts them to return but also serves as a vital safety net, providing support that helps them sustain their work and life in urban areas. Maintaining aspects of rural culture can contribute to their psychological well-being, which in turn can enhance their intention to settle in cities or return home to engage in nonagricultural work.