The Integration Resources of Refugees and Life Satisfaction: Evidence from the City of Vienna

Abstract

Using data from a survey of refugees from Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, and Iraq in Vienna, Austria, most of whom arrived in 2015, we employ path analysis to study the effects of various integration resources on life satisfaction. In addition, we consider sociodemographic effects. We find that refugees who scored higher on host-country-specific language proficiency, social contacts, and a feeling of relatedness have significantly higher levels of life satisfaction. Origin-country-specific integration resources are not significantly related. Our findings imply that opportunities in the host country are crucial for a satisfying integration process of refugees.