Pathways to Refugee Well-Being: The Effect of Positive and Negative Contact Among Refugees in Italy

This study involved 99 refugees in Italy to explore how positive and negative contact with Italians are associated with perceived discrimination, cultural adoption and well-being. Positive contact was associated with higher psychological and physical well-being and lower perceived discrimination, while negative contact was only associated with higher perceived discrimination. The positive x negative contact interaction effect showed that negative contact can diminish the benefits of positive contact, and the effects of negative contact are increased when positive contact is high. These findings emphasize the importance of fostering positive intergroup relations while addressing negative contact to support refugee integration.