Migrants’ Adjustment and Acceptance of Local Residents in Rural Migration and its Relationship to Social Capital

Rural Migration in the Island Region of Okinawa

Abstract

This study aims to examine the relationship between social capital and migrants’ adjustment and local residents’ attitude toward acceptance of migrants in rural migration in the Okinawa region. A web-based survey was conducted on 412 migrants as Study Ⅰ and 517 local residents as Study Ⅱ. The results of Study Ⅰ showed a relationship between migrants’ adjustment and various aspects of social capital, particularly with regard to social networks, suggesting that the need for such networks varies depending on the length of residence. The results of Study Ⅱ showed that networking with migrants was not associated with local residents’ attitudes toward acceptance of migrants, but with their image of migrants. Through both studies, general trust was shown to be an important factor.