Influence of Perceived Racial Discrimination on the Health of Immigrant Children in Canada

M Anne George,Cherylynn Bassani

doi:10.1007/s12134-018-0539-3

Abstract

Racial discrimination and racism are recognized as determinants of health for adults. Less is understood regarding the influence of discrimination targeted towards parents, the family, or the cultural and children’s health. Data from the New Canadian Children and Youth Study (NCCYS) are used in this paper. The NCCYS is a national, longitudinal study of children whose families settled in urban centers of Canada. We analyzed data from individuals who settled in the metropolitan Vancouver area from six ethnic communities: Mainland China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Iran, Afghanistan, and the Punjab who were interviewed at two times, approximately 2 years apart. Data were collected on perceived parental, family, and cultural discrimination. Our dependent variable was parent-reported child health status. Over time, perceived parental discrimination and perceived family discrimination decreased; and both forms of discrimination had a positive effect on child health. In contrast, perceived cultural discrimination increased over time and had a negative effect on child health at both times. Different forms of discrimination have different effects on child health. Racial discrimination is complex. Its influence on either increasing family cohesion, and thereby leading to improved health, or increasing stress, thereby leading to poorer health needs to be explored further.

Highlights

Racial discrimination and racism are recognized as determinants of health in adult populations (Harris et al 2015; Paradies et al 2015; Priest et al 2013; Pascoe and Smart Richman 2009; Krieger 2000)
Racial discrimination is defined as Bany distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin^ (United Nations 1969)
Our study focuses on immigrant and refugee children settling in Canada from six regions or countries: Afghanistan, Iran, Hong Kong, Mainland China, the Philippines, and the Punjab region of India

Summary

Introduction

Racial discrimination and racism are recognized as determinants of health in adult populations (Harris et al 2015; Paradies et al 2015; Priest et al 2013; Pascoe and Smart Richman 2009; Krieger 2000). Racism has been defined in various ways, but generally is considered to be the action or attitude that subordinates individuals or groups of people, through a power relationship, ranking some groups as culturally superior to others (Williams and Mohammed 2009; Jones 1997). It emanates from an organized system with dominant ranking of one or more groups, and leads to restriction of goods or resources to groups allocated as inferior (Williams and Mohammed 2009; Jones 1997). The United Nations on the Convention of the Rights of the Child states that children must be protected from all forms of discrimination (United Nations 1969)

Methods

Results

Conclusion