A double disadvantage? Immigrant and disability status as predictors of community belonging in Canada

To investigate the relationship between immigrant status, disability status, and sense of community belonging in Canada, and to identify sociodemographic factors associated with weaker community belonging among immigrants with disabilities. Given established links between community belonging and health outcomes, this analysis contributes to understanding social determinants of health equity.

We analyzed data from the 2020 General Social Survey (Cycle 35): Social Identity (n = 30,136), using binary logistic regression to assess the associations between immigrant status, disability status, and sense of community belonging. By including an interaction term in the analysis, we examined whether the effect of one social status (e.g., disability) varied across levels of the other (e.g., immigrant status). Subgroup analysis examined predictors of weak community belonging among immigrants with disabilities.

Disability was associated with increased odds of reporting weak community belonging, while immigrant status was associated with decreased odds. A significant interaction indicated that the effect of disability was greater among Canadian-born individuals, and the protective effect of immigrant status was greater among those with disabilities (interaction OR = 0.81, CI [.71-.87] p < .001). Findings suggest that young, male, and single immigrants with disabilities may be particularly vulnerable to experiencing a weak sense of community belonging.

Sense of community belonging is a key social determinant of health. These findings highlight the need for public health strategies that address how immigrant and disability status jointly shape social inclusion and health equity in Canada.