Menu
Search
Migration. Family. Social relationships. , , Transnational family constellations and social inclusion of people from Eritrea and Syria in Germany
This joint brochure by the Federal Institute for Population Research and the Research Centre of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees presents first central results from the project "Forced Migration and Transnational Family Arrangements – Eritrean and Syrian Refugees in Germany (TransFAR)". The nationwide study focuses on family and social situations of people who recently immigrated from Eritrea and Syria.
The analyses are based on roughly 1,500 interviews with men and women from Eritrea and Syria, who entered Germany between 2013 and 2019 in the age between 18 and 45. The interviews were realised Germany-wide face-to-face and computer-assisted (CAPI) using standardised questionnaires. The two-stage random sampling was carried out on the basis of the Central Register of Foreigners (AZR).
Central results
Usually the core family lives in Germany
Most respondents are living in Germany with their core families, that is their partner and their children. Transnational partnerships and children who live abroad are very rare. The large majority of the extended family (i.e. parents [in-law], siblings, other members of the family) lives in the country of origin or in third states, but among Syrian respondents some of the parents or siblings live in Germany, too.
Social networks are diverse
The respondents have an average of four to five people with whom they are in a regular exchange. Syrian respondents name somewhat more individuals than Eritreans do. In most cases, in particular among Syrian women, reference persons are family members. Relatives also play the most important role when it comes to leisure activities and discussing personal matters. The non-family network is largely formed by friends, among Eritreans however by volunteers and professionals, too.
The majority appears to be satisfied with their lives in Germany
The vast majority of the respondents in the TransFAR study state that they are satisfied with their lives in general and with their circle of friends and acquaintances. Only very few of them feel frequently socially isolated in Germany.
Analyses show that feelings of social isolation are rarer with more frequent contacts to Germans but also through local support by family.
You can download the Methodology Report on the project from the BiB website.
The brochure is only available in German.