Islam and the Transmission of Cultural Identity in Four European Countries.

This article investigates whether the cultural distinctiveness of Muslim immigrant-origin youth in four European countries—England, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden—is primarily driven by parent-to-child cultural transmission. Using data from the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Survey in Four European Countries (CILS4EU) and employing multigroup latent class analysis across 16 indicators spanning ethnic attachments, sexual liberalism, gender norms, and integration beliefs, the study identifies four cultural identity profiles among immigrant-origin youth. While Muslim youth are more likely than their peers to adopt ethno-traditionalist identities and less likely to hold host-oriented liberal identities, the analysis finds limited evidence that these patterns result from intergenerational transmission within families. Instead, extrafamilial factors such as discrimination and broader societal dynamics appear more influential in shaping the cultural identities of Muslim adolescents. The study highlights the importance of multidimensional approaches to cultural identity and suggests future research should focus on external social forces affecting immigrant integration.