Work

Immigrant-origin adolescent mental and sexual health disparities in the USA: a scoping review protocol

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction Adolescents of immigrant-origin in the USA experience unique barriers that contribute to mental and sexual health disparities. These include acculturation stress, language barriers, structural exclusion from health and social services, conflicting cultural norms, familial obligation and internalised conflict arising from intersecting identities. While the mental and sexual health of adolescents, including within this population, is often examined separately, limited evidence examines the intersection of these areas of adolescent health and well-being. This review aims to identify and synthesise evidence on social and structural factors faced by immigrant-origin adolescents in the USA that influence mental and/or sexual health, examine how these generate disparities, and identify interventions aimed at mitigating barriers to healthcare access and utilisation and improving mental and sexual health outcomes. Methods and analysis This scoping review will follow guidance from the Joanna Briggs Institute Manual for Evidence Synthesis and the Arksey and O’Malley methodological framework, and report findings using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. A systematic and iterative search strategy using the Population, Concept and Context method and relevant Boolean operators will be implemented across three databases (PubMed, CINAHL and PsycINFO) for English-language, full-text studies focused on first- or second-generation immigrant-origin adolescents aged 10–19 years in the USA. Eligible studies will employ qualitative, quantitative or mixed-methods designs and examine barriers, facilitators, disparities related to and/or interventions focused on mental and/or sexual health outcomes and/or related healthcare access and utilisation. Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts and full-text articles through the Covidence platform, with conflicts initially resolved through discussion and the remaining conflicts resolved through a third independent reviewer. Data extraction will also be conducted by two independent reviewers and verified by a third independent reviewer. Data extracted across key information categories corresponding to the research questions will be thematically summarised and analysed using descriptive statistics. Ethics and dissemination Institutional research ethics approval is not required as there is no human subjects’ participation. Findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal article.

Source: BMJ Open

DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2026-118908

Authors: Rebecca Maria Finkelstein, Stephanie Nicole Komasinski, Shandey D Malcolm, Afsan Bhadelia

Institution: Purdue University West Lafayette

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: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,839