Satisfaction with life among Colombian migrants in Chile: the role of fusion identity and acculturation strategies

This study analyzes the relationship between identity fusion and acculturation strategies with life satisfaction in Colombian migrants in Chile. The sample consisted of 919 Colombian migrants, of whom 464 (50.5%) were women. Participants were residents of the cities of Arica (n = 219; 23.8%), Antofagasta (n = 476; 51.8%) and Santiago (n = 224; 24.4%) in Chile. The variables assessed were Identity Fusion, Acculturation Strategies and Satisfaction with Life. Structural equation modeling using the robust weighted least squares estimation method was performed to estimate the proposed model. The results indicate that, identity fusion with Colombia was positively related to attitudes toward the country of origin and life satisfaction but was negatively related to attitudes toward the host country. On the other hand, identity fusion with Chile was only positively related to attitudes toward the host country. Finally, attitudes towards the country of origin presented indirect effects between identity fusion with Colombia and Satisfaction with life. We conclude that the developing a visceral feeling of union with the country of origin could explain a better evaluation of one's own life, this relationship being mediated by attitudes oriented to maintaining the characteristics of the country of origin. Developing a visceral feeling of attachment to the host country was only associated with adopting characteristics of the host country culture. Implications and limitations of these results are discussed.