Risk and Protective Factors in Central American and Southeast Asian Refugee Children

Abstract

The relative importance of preand postmigration factors on the emotional profile was assessed in 156 school-age refugee children born in Southeast Asia and Central America and living in Montreal. In Central American children, the family trauma history stands out as the principal determinant of internalized and externalized symptoms, whereas in Southeast Asians, family variables, and in particular family conflict and parental depression, contribute to increased symptomatology. These findings imply that premigration and family risk factors play an essential role for refugee children, and that the impact of protective and risk factors varies with ethnic origin and a specific preand post-migratory context.