Bridging “isolated islands”: heterogeneous social networks facilitate the social integration of Chinese migrant workers

These findings deepen our understanding of social integration processes and offer insights for policy interventions to promote inclusive urbanization. By emphasizing the importance of diverse social networks in fostering social participation, this study underscores the need to enhance interpersonal relationships to facilitate migrant workers' integration into urban communities. To enhance migrant workers' social integration, it is essential to enhance the institutional environment, promote communication between migrant workers and urban residents, and foster a culture of trust in contemporary society.