Work

The Mental Health Advantage of Immigrant‐Background Youth: The Role of Family Factors

Year: 2016

Type: article

Abstract: Children of immigrant background, despite problems with acculturation, poverty, and discrimination, have better mental health than children of native parents. We asked whether this is a result of immigrant families' characteristics such as family structure and relations. Using a new comparative study on the integration of immigrant‐background youth conducted in England, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden (N = 18,716), particularly strong associations with mental health (internalizing and externalizing problems) were found for family structure, family cohesion, and parental warmth. Overall, half of the advantage in internalizing and externalizing problems among immigrant‐background youth could be accounted for by our measures of family structure and family relations, with family cohesion being particularly important.

Source: Journal of Marriage and the Family

DOI: 10.1111/jomf.12340

Authors: Carina Mood, Jan O. Jonsson, Sara Brolin Låftman

Institutions: Stockholm University, Institute for Futures Studies

Language: English

Topic: Migration, Health and Trauma

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,050