A Multidimensional Conceptualization of Social Workers’ Attitudes Toward Immigrants and Immigration (ATII)

Background and Purpose:

In social work, attitudes toward immigrants and immigration (ATII) are critical because they shape both client-level interactions and the implementation of immigration-related policies. A key distinction must be made between attitudes toward immigrants (as individuals) and attitudes toward immigration (as a broader phenomenon), as these are related but conceptually distinct. Existing approaches, particularly threat-based perspectives, tend to emphasize negative perceptions and lack a comprehensive and systematic structure. This study aims to refine the conceptualization of ATII by integrating multiple theoretical perspectives and organizing them within a multidomain framework relevant to social work contexts.

Methods:

This study employs a conceptual integration approach. First, it identifies four key dimensions of ATII: (1) attitudes toward immigrants in general, (2) attitudes toward specific immigrant groups, (3) attitudes toward immigration-related policies, and (4) attitudes toward the perceived effects of immigration. Second, it reviews common measurement strategies, including general favorability scales, stereotype measures, social distance scales, behavioral intentions, and policy preference items. Third, it critically examines existing theoretical frameworks, particularly threat-based models and the Threat-Benefit Model, identifying their limitations in scope and structure. Finally, it reorganizes perceived threats and benefits using a multidomain framework consisting of six domains—structural, social, cultural, civic/political, identity, and physical—through systematic mapping and refinement.

Results:

The findings confirm that ATII is a multidimensional construct encompassing both individual-level and societal-level evaluations. Measurement approaches vary accordingly, capturing general sentiments, group-specific biases, behavioral intentions, policy preferences, and perceived societal impacts. The perceived impact dimension is systematically organized into six domains. Structural factors include perceptions of economic competition and labor contributions; social factors involve cohesion versus segregation; cultural factors reflect tensions between value preservation and diversity; civic and political factors concern power distribution and participation; identity factors address national belonging versus pluralism; and physical factors relate to safety concerns and demographic change. Importantly, attitudes reflect both perceived threats and benefits simultaneously, highlighting the complexity of ATII beyond purely negative or positive orientations.

Conclusions and Implications:

This study proposes a more comprehensive and systematic conceptualization of ATII by integrating multiple dimensions and organizing perceived impacts across six domains. The framework addresses key limitations of prior approaches, particularly their narrow focus on negative perceptions and lack of conceptual coherence. By incorporating both threats and benefits, it captures the inherently complex and ambivalent nature of attitudes toward immigrants and immigration.

In the social work context, this framework has direct implications for understanding how practitioners interpret and implement immigration and integration policies. Since attitudes toward policies and perceived impacts are multidimensional, social workers’ responses to clients and policy guidelines may vary depending on which domains are most salient to them (e.g., structural concerns versus cultural or identity-related considerations). Furthermore, distinguishing between attitudes toward immigrants in general and toward specific groups highlights the potential for differentiated treatment based on perceived deservingness. Overall, the framework provides a structured basis for analyzing how social workers’ attitudes are formed and how they may translate into practice behaviors within diverse and complex service environments.