No man wants to be an Island: Migrants’ perspectives on the barriers undermining the formation of social ties with locals in Finland
TAIMI Researchers Publish New Study on Migrants’ Social Integration in Finland
A new research article by TAIMI researchers Ilona Bontenbal, Quivine Ndomo, together with Reetta Riikonen and Francesca Calò, examines the barriers migrants face when trying to build social ties with locals in Finland.
The open-access publication, titled “No man wants to be an Island: Migrants’ perspectives on the barriers undermining the formation of social ties with locals in Finland,” is published under a Creative Commons license and contributes important insights into migration, integration, and social inclusion research.
Based on 68 interviews with migrants from non-EU countries, the study explores experiences across three main activity groups: people who are employed, studying, or participating in integration training. The researchers identified three major barriers affecting the formation of social ties with locals:
- Limited opportunities to connect through shared social settings
- Cultural and social norms that complicate everyday interactions
- Life-stage and age-related factors influencing relationship building
The findings reveal that many migrants strongly wish to form meaningful relationships with Finns, yet often struggle to move beyond weak or superficial connections. This challenge was reported across all participant groups, including those who regularly shared environments with locals through work or studies.
The publication highlights the importance of creating more inclusive social environments and strengthening opportunities for interaction between migrants and local communities in Finland.
Article’s doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2026.102418