Bicultural relationships: diversity-sensitive family support in superdiversity

Research shows that the number and proportion of couples with at least one partner of non-Belgian origin is growing, both in Belgium and across other EU member states. These couples face a higher risk of divorce.

This PWO project investigates the sustainability of relationships and the support needs of bi-cultural couples—defined as mixed couples with one partner of non-Belgian origin, as well as couples where both partners have a migration background. These couples navigate multiple cultural reference frameworks (“biculturality”), develop diversity competencies, and adopt various cultural repertoires. While this can be enriching, it also presents significant challenges. Bi-cultural couples and families often report a lack of information on topics such as multilingualism, differing family expectations, and parenting choices.

Moreover, they sometimes experience limited understanding and support from their surroundings when shaping their relationship, and professional care often fails to align with the realities of bi-cultural couples. Problems are too often attributed solely to cultural differences. Care providers and family policy need better insight into the growing number of bi-cultural families, the diversity within this group, and their specific needs.

Through this PWO project, we aim to explore the (diversity) competencies, resilience, challenges, vulnerabilities, and support needs of couples with at least one partner of non-Belgian origin. Based on these insights, we will co-create a broader, more targeted, and diversity-sensitive range of family support services. This will be achieved through a combination of:

• Knowledge development, to provide professionals with deeper insight into bi-cultural family dynamics;
• Methodology development, in co-creation with diversity-sensitive family support workers;
• Training, exchange, and intervision, to contribute to a more inclusive and diversity-sensitive family support offering for families with at least one partner of non-Belgian origin.

• Sofie Dieltjens, sexologist and couples therapist, member of the board of BVGRS
• Geert Schelkens, clinical psychologist/psychotherapist at Psygroup International Joint Practice Brussels in Etterbeek and part-time at Bru-Stars, Network of Mental Health Care for Adolescents and Children in the Brussels Capital Region as an expert on the topics of culturally sensitive care and migration
• Floris Van Brabandt, social worker at CAW Boom-Mechelen-Lier and lecturer in family sciences education
• Fatma Arikoglu, Ella vzw
• Saida El Fekri, Safe space vzw
• Veerle Audenaert, Department of Welfare, Public Health and Family
• Dimitri Mortelmans, University of Antwerp
• Semiye Tas, systemic therapist and sexologist
• Arzu Yentur, clinical psychologist and psychology lecturer at the Erasmushogeschool Brussels