A comparative study of parental knowledge and adaptation of immigrant youth

Elina Turjanmaa,Inga Jasinskaja-Lahti

doi:10.1186/s40878-020-00207-z

Elina Turjanmaa, Inga Jasinskaja-Lahti

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40878-020-00207-z

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Abstract

In general, parental knowledge is known to support adolescents’ adaptation. Less is known about the role of parental knowledge in psychological (i.e., anxiety) and socio-cultural (i.e., school achievement) adaptation of adolescents with immigrant background, and how parental knowledge and social characteristics (i.e., gender, generational status, immigrant background, and family’ socioeconomic background) of immigrant adolescents jointly influence their adaptation outcomes. This study explores the role of adolescent-reported parental knowledge in explaining adaptation outcomes among first- and second-generation immigrant boys and girls from four different immigrant groups. The study utilizes the national Finnish School Health Promotion survey data (N = 2697, 45% female, M age = 15.6 years, SD = .91) and illustrates the complex relationship between parental knowledge and adolescents’ adaptation.

Highlights

MethodsParticipants and procedure This study utilizes the Finnish School Health Promotion survey data
Aims and hypotheses This study investigates the relationship between parental knowledge and adolescents’ adaptation outcomes in different immigrant groups and the extent to which it depends on adolescents’ generational status, gender and family’s socioeconomic status
Based on previous research conducted in the European context showing that girls typically report higher school achievement but more psychological stress symptoms than boys (Fleischmann et al 2014; Mood et al 2016; Vaquera and Kao 2012) and that first generation immigrants suffer more from psychological stress symptoms compared to second generation youth (Dimitrova et al 2016; Halme et al 2017), we explore whether the role of parental knowledge in adolescents’ adaptation is crucial for girls and firstgeneration youth and in families with lower SES

Summary

Methods

Participants and procedure This study utilizes the Finnish School Health Promotion survey data. The survey is carried out every second year in all comprehensive schools, upper secondary schools and vocational education institutions in Finland by the National Institute for Health and Welfare. The targets of the School Health Promotion Study represent a complete sample of the age group. The study consists of an annually repeated core survey and annually changing specific questions. The data of this study has been gathered using classroom-administered questionnaires from comprehensive school pupils (i.e., 8th and 9th graders1) in April 2013. Pupils had one lesson in which to complete the questionnaire under a teacher’s supervision. The study was anonymous and participation was voluntary

Results

Discussion

Conclusion