Preprint

The grass really is greener on the other side: immigration and changes in expressed sentiments online

Kim, J., Weber, I. G., Zagheni, E.

SocArXiv papers
35 pages.
SocArXiv
submitted: 20 July 2025 / last edited: 21 July 2025 (version 1) (2025), unpublished

DOI:10.31235/osf.io/69p7y_v1

Open Access

Abstract

Immigration produces diverse outcomes, with some immigrants finding happiness in an improved quality of life, while others face emotional distress from unexpected challenges. Studying these emotional experiences is challenging due to limited longitudinal data. To address this, we curated high-quality data and analyzed Twitter activities of immigrants in the US to explore how their expressed sentiments evolve post-migration, comparing them to non-immigrants and US locals in a quasi-causal sense. Our findings revealed that migration generally boosts positive sentiments among immigrants, even when discussing the same topics, and that this effect lasts up to one year post-migration. However, there is no conclusive evidence that migration significantly impacts negative sentiments. Additionally, age and gender play a key role, with younger population and females more likely to express positive sentiments post-migration, while linguistic ties help foster increased positivity. These insights advance our understanding of immigrants’ emotional adaptation and highlight key demographic and social factors that shape their post-migration experiences.