Prejudice towards immigrants in Malta : is xenophobia an issue?

Abstract

Xenophobia was examined by looking at its particular characteristics, and in the context of particular hypothesises. Most of the participants in this study scored quite high scores in xenophobic beliefs, and participants with lower levels of education and who perceived there to be higher populations scored much higher in xenophobic beliefs, in contrast to others with higher levels of education and lower perceived number of immigrants. Xenophobic and racist beliefs were significantly con-elated, showing that they tend to complement each other. When analysing the proximity of the participants with immigrants, in relation to district they reside in, the results yielded were not significant. All together these findings suggested that economy, fear of losing one's national identity, and particular characteristics in a person's social and personal life are likely to have an impact on their xenophobic beliefs.