Ethnic Destiny Effects on Cultural Distance and Adjustment: The Case of Zimbabwean Immigrants Living in South Africa

ABSTRACT The ethnic density (ED) effect hypothesized that people residing in areas with people from the same ethnic group are likely to experience better well-being and higher life satisfaction. Increased social support and decreased discrimination have been shown to act as mediators of this effect. However, there is little research on perceived ethnic density effects and in migrants living in South Africa, and it is unknown how this variable interacts with cultural distance. The study used online questionnaires to assess ethnic density, cultural distance, life satisfaction, discrimination, social support, depression and psychosis among immigrants. (N=289) Zimbabwean participants living in South Africa took part in the study. ED was positively associated with higher life satisfaction, but not with depression and psychosis. ED also moderated the relation between cultural distance and psychosis, but not in the expected direction. Furthermore, the ED mediational hypothesis was not confirmed, which resulted in exploratory analyses.