Abstract
This thesis examines how Muslim immigrant youth establish their sense of belonging to the Muslim community and wider New Zealand society. It underscores the significance of dual belonging and the challenges in harmonising Islamic identity with Western cultural norms. The research aims to inform policies that facilitate effective integration and enhance the well-being of youth within a multicultural context. This study combines quantitative data from a survey of 258 Muslim immigrant youth aged 16-29 with qualitative insights from 20 participants, using a mixed methods approach. Using the multiple belonging approach, this study explores the youth's dual sense of belonging, exploring how they balance their Islamic identity with cultural assimilation, and the ways in which social interactions and immigration entry status influence their sense of belonging. It also challenges the common assumption that religious faith hampers social inclusion. It explores the influence of religious practice and religious salience on integration within the wider New Zealand society and the Muslim community, rooted in the Social Identity Theory. The study then explores the complex connection between perceived discrimination and belonging, using the Rejection-Identification Model. The quantitative data indicates that discrimination reduces the feeling of belonging, but the qualitative data shows a broader perspective. Therefore, individuals may react to discrimination by employing tactics that strengthen their sense of identity and belonging in various ways that the quantitative method does not fully capture. Furthermore, despite the significant role of close friends in fostering a sense of belonging, the survey data show that Muslim youth immigrants have fewer close friends outside the Muslim community. In addition, these results underscore the importance of integrating quantitative and qualitative methods to gain a more holistic understanding of the experiences of Muslim immigrant youth in New Zealand.