The influence of social mobility on the reconstruction of identity among international students: Case study of Serbia

Abstract

The article investigates the influence of social mobility on the personal identity of international students during their stay abroad or upon returning to their home countries. The analysis data were collected through a questionnaire. In the introduction and theoretical section of the paper, we examine social mobility and its potential in post-socialist Serbia. We operationalize social mobility through educational attainment, comparing the education levels of parents and students. We assume that identity is fluid and subject to reconstruction based on the social context and inclusion in various practices. We utilized the binary regression analysis to assess the impact of social mobility alongside other socio-demographic factors. The findings indicate that the mothers' education level and the duration of the respondents' stay abroad significantly influence students' perceptions of personal identity changes.

Keywords

• social mobility
• international students
• education
• identity