Predicting Support for Multiculturalism among Native Youth: The Role of National Identity and Intergroup Contact

Abstract

In this research it is analysed to what extent support for multiculturalism among Dutch native youth is affected by national identification and whether intergroup contact in social clubs functions to enhance or buffer this relationship. Data from the first wave of Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Survey in Four European Countries (CILS4EU) (Kalter et al., 2016), conducted in the Netherlands, are used. The data sample consists of 1518, 14-15 year old Dutch native pupils with no migration background. In line with expectations derived from Social Identity Theory, it has been established that national identification functions as a predictor for support for multiculturalism. Contrary to expectations derived from contact hypothesis and Focus Theory, results show that intergroup contact in social clubs does not moderate this negative effect.