To Örebro University

Neoliberal globalization, climate change, and political instability have contributed to increasing migration, boosting diversity in host countries like Sweden. This increased diversity brings unique benefits for both migrants and the host society but can also pose challenges, especially for the migrants. Upon migration, individuals may encounter challenges such as language barriers and discrimination. These challenges are often more pronounced for newly arrived youth, who are already experiencing major developmental changes during adolescence. Adverse experiences may diminish their feelings of being valued and respected and could lead to a negative perception of society. This study examines newly arrived youth’s sense of belonging and how they view Swedish society and the potential consequences of these negative impressions. The sample included 139 newly arrived adolescents residing in Sweden (Mage=15.7, SD=.80; 55% females). Poor sense of belonging and negative views of society were defined by scores lower than 1 standard deviation below the average. Results showed that 15.4% experienced a low sense of belonging (M = 1.5, SD = .46) and 12.3% had a negative view of Swedish society (M = 1.83, SD = .51). Further analysis showed that adolescents with poor sense of belonging and negative views of Swedish society had significantly lower levels of optimism about their future, lower motivation to socially integrate, and lower confidence in achieving their educational and career goals. Therefore, it is imperative to provide tailored support for youths encountering adverse experiences to bolster their future aspirations and objectives. This necessitates the adoption of critical social work perspectives to understand societal structures and discourses that decrease the sense of belonging. Tailoring interventions and supporting institutions for developing more inclusive practices may facilitate reciprocal positive social exchanges, and in turn, reduce the risk of marginalization of minorities.