Age, life cycle, and length of stay: temporal perspectives on integration

The policy brief examines how temporal perspectives influence the integration of immigrants in Norway. Based on interviews with 67 individuals from diverse backgrounds, the authors argue that a sense of belonging is not a linear process but is shaped by the age at which a person arrives, how long they have lived in the country, and their current life-cycle phase (such as parenthood or old age). The brief critiques the use of 'generation' labels, suggesting that such categorizations homogenize heterogeneous groups and can hinder the sense of belonging. It concludes that focusing on these temporal and social dimensions, rather than primarily on national origin, is essential for improving integration efforts and social acceptance.

• Time-related factors, including age at arrival, length of residence, and life-cycle stages, significantly influence an immigrant's sense of belonging to Norway and their overall integration, regardless of their country of origin or migration category.
• The sense of belonging is a dynamic, non-linear process that fluctuates over time and may involve simultaneous connections to Norway, the country of origin, or third countries.
• Age at the time of migration is a decisive factor in forming social bonds; children who arrive at a school age develop childhood memories and peer networks in Norway, whereas older immigrants may find it more difficult to learn the language and social codes.
• Life-cycle phases, such as being a parent of school-aged children, increase the degree of belonging and integration in Norwegian society, while the elderly may experience a resurgence of memories and connections to their country of origin.
• The common practice of categorizing immigrants by 'generation' (e.g., first or second generation) is too simplistic and homogenizes diverse experiences, which can negatively impact an individual's sense of belonging.

APA

Erdal, M. B., & Ezzati, R. T. (2015). Age, life cycle, and length of stay: temporal perspectives on integration. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/069a1e8e-bb91-4bc3-8387-0da6e77d0c5b/Erdal Ezzati - Age life cycle and length of stay temporal perspectives on integration PRIO Policy Brief 1-2015.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Erdal, Marta Bivand, and Rojan Tordhol Ezzati. Age, life cycle, and length of stay: temporal perspectives on integration. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2015. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/069a1e8e-bb91-4bc3-8387-0da6e77d0c5b/Erdal Ezzati - Age life cycle and length of stay temporal perspectives on integration PRIO Policy Brief 1-2015.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Erdal |first1=Marta Bivand |last2=Ezzati |first2=Rojan Tordhol |title=Age, life cycle, and length of stay: temporal perspectives on integration |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=2015 |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/069a1e8e-bb91-4bc3-8387-0da6e77d0c5b/Erdal Ezzati - Age life cycle and length of stay temporal perspectives on integration PRIO Policy Brief 1-2015.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{erdal2015age, author = {Erdal, Marta Bivand and Ezzati, Rojan Tordhol}, title = {{Age, life cycle, and length of stay: temporal perspectives on integration}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2015}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/069a1e8e-bb91-4bc3-8387-0da6e77d0c5b/Erdal Ezzati - Age life cycle and length of stay temporal perspectives on integration PRIO Policy Brief 1-2015.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }