Immigrant Children Research Articles

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder among children of immigrants: immigrant generation and family poverty

ABSTRACT Objectives: Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common disorders diagnosed among children in the US. However, little knowledge is available about ADHD prevalence among children of immigrants, the fastest-growing population in the US. This study seeks to examine ADHD rates among children of immigrants in different generations compared to children of US-born parents and their association with family poverty. Design: The sample includes 83,362 children aged 0–17 from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 2010–2018 data. Multivariate logistic regression model is used to estimate prevalence of ADHD among children of immigrants compared to children of US-born parents. We then compare ADHD rates among the children sample in different immigrant generations. For all analyses, we examine ADHD occurrence separately for children in families living below the poverty threshold and those at or above the poverty threshold. Results: The odds of having ADHD were significantly lower among children of immigrants compared to children of US-born parents. Both first-generation children and second-generation children of immigrants had significantly lower odds of having ADHD than children of US-born parents. Post hoc tests find that first-generation children had lower odds of having ADHD compared to second-generation children. Likewise, additional analyses showed that children of immigrants, first-generation children in particular, were less likely to have ADHD compared to children of US-born parents, in both lower- and higher-income families. Conclusion: Using a nationally representative sample of children, we find that the likelihood of having ADHD increases with higher generations, detecting differences in ADHD prevalence by immigration generation. Importantly, first-generation children had a significantly lower risk of having ADHD conditions compared to second-generation children and children of US-born parents, regardless of family socio-economic status. Public health policy and program development would gain from a clear comprehension of the shielding attributes of ADHD among immigrant families.

Patterns of healthcare use among children with immigrant and non-immigrant backgrounds in 2019 and 2020: evidence from the CRIAS cohort study in the metropolitan area of Lisbon, Portugal

BackgroundInternational migrant families may face various barriers in the access and use of health services. Evidence on immigrant children’s health care or prevention facilities’ utilisation patterns is scarce in Portugal. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to compare health services use between immigrant and non-immigrant children in the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon in 2019–2020 with the aim of informing public policies towards equitable access to, and use of health services.MethodsThe CRIAS (Health Trajectories of Immigrant Children) prospective cohort study enrolled 420 children (51.6% immigrant) born in 2015 and attending primary health care (PHC) services in 2019. We compared primary health care facilities and hospital paediatric emergency department (ED) utilisation patterns in the public National Health Service, together with reported private practitioners use, between immigrant and non-immigrant children in 2019 and 2020. The Pearson chi-squared test, Fisher-Freeman-Halton Exact test, two-proportion z-test and Mann‒Whitney U test were used to examine the differences between the two groups.ResultsIn 2019, no significant differences in PHC consultations attendance between the two groups were observed. However, first-generation immigrant children (children residing in Portugal born in a non-European Union country) accessed fewer routine health assessments compared to non-immigrant children (63.4% vs. 79.2%). When children were acutely ill, 136 parents, of whom 55.9% were parents of non-immigrant children, reported not attending PHC as the first point of contact. Among those, nearly four times more non-immigrant children sought healthcare in the private sector than immigrant children (p < 0.001). Throughout 2019, immigrant children used ED more often than non-immigrant children (53.5% vs. 40.4%, p = 0.010), as their parents reported difficulties in accessing PHC. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer immigrant children accessed PHC compared to non-immigrant children (70% vs. 80%, p = 0.018). Both non-immigrant and immigrant children reduced ED use by 2.5 times, with a higher decrease among immigrant children (46% vs. 34%). In both 2019 and 2020, over 80% of immigrant and non-immigrant children used ED for conditions classified as having low clinical priority.ConclusionBeyond identifying health care use inequalities between immigrant and non-immigrant children, the study points to urgent needs for public policy and economic investments to strengthen PHC for all children rather than for some.

Unaccompanied or Separated Migrant Children and Adolescents at the Colombian–Venezuelan Border: Loss of the Social Moratorium and Its Implications

This study explains the Venezuelan migration involving unaccompanied or separated adolescents (UASA) on the Colombian–Venezuelan border, specifically in Norte de Santander-Táchira. This explanation is framed within the concept of the social moratorium, highlighting three subcategories that contribute to the early abandonment of childhood: 1. the violation of rights, 2. working life, and 3. confrontation of dangers. These subcategories compel UASA to transition prematurely into youth, assuming social, labor, or family responsibilities. Methodologically, we adopt a narrative approach, conducting group interviews with 24 immigrant children and adolescents. Furthermore, 14 interviews are conducted in 2 local markets, and the remaining 10 on 2 central avenues in the city of Cúcuta, Colombia. We conduct a theoretical analysis drawing upon key concepts, including the social moratorium, social constructionism, interaction, and moral and cognitive development. This theoretical framework helps us understand the consequences for the life prospects of this generation. They arise from factors such as school dropout, exposure to health risks, and the absence of free leisure time. These indicators reflect socioeconomic problems, including poverty, abuse, and violence.

Promoting mental health and preventing mental health problems in child and adolescent refugees and asylum seekers: A systematic review on psychosocial interventions.

According to the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), children and adolescents represent 41% of all forcibly displaced individuals. They have to deal with conflicts, violence, and the many difficulties of flight and resettlement during a critical stage of their emotional, social, cognitive, and physical development. They are more likely to experience mental health problems during migration. Despite the several known risk factors, it is frequently challenging for refugees and asylum seekers to get mental health care. In this paper we review available studies on interventions aimed at promoting mental health and at preventing common mental disorders in immigrant adolescents and children. The relevant PubMed, Scopus, PsychINFO and Web of Science databases were searched for papers published until March 21, 2023, using ("immigrants" OR "migration" OR "asylum seekers" OR "refugees") AND ("promotion" OR "prevention") AND ("mental health" OR "mental disorders" OR "psych*") AND ("children" OR "adolescents" OR "young adults") as search string. Fourteen articles qualified for the detailed review. The majority of available interventions, although highly heterogeneous in format and content, showed significant improvement in several psychopathological dimensions, including trauma-related symptoms, psychological stress, anxiety, depressive and cognitive symptoms. Available studies on interventions for the prevention of mental disorders and the promotion of mental health in refugees and asylum seekers children and adolescents indicate that provided interventions were associated with a global improvement for participants. Implementation strategies to improve their scalability are highly needed.

The Identity Dilemma among Inter-Generational Immigrants -- Take the United States in the 21st Century as an Example

For the United States, immigration has rapidly diversified its ethnic composition. With the arrival of people from different regions with different cultural origins and religious beliefs, some social problems have arisen while constantly exploring new living Spaces. Therefore, in order to solve the problem of the social identity of American immigrants and the identity dilemma between generations of immigrants, this paper adopts the literature research method and finds that from the initial entry verification to voucher entry, either way, will bring the experience of belonging to American immigrants. Differences and even contradictions between groups caused by racial differences and cultural barriers are everywhere in society, and even new immigrants will produce huge contradictions due to differences in identity and cultural identity. Only by grasping their own identity and sticking to their own Tao in mother culture and immigrant culture can they avoid the end of duckweed in chaotic times.

Input factors in the acquisition of evidentiality by Turkish heritage language children and adults in the United States

ABSTRACTAspectual and mood morphology are vulnerable domains in adult heritage speakers. This paper investigates the root of such vulnerability within the domain of Turkish evidentiality system by comparing 20 second-generation adult and 20 school-age child Turkish heritage speakers to 20 first-generation immigrants (main input providers for child heritage speakers) residing in the United States. A monolingual group from Turkey including 20 monolingual adults, 20 7-14-year-old and 20 3-6-year-old Turkish-speaking children were also tested. Results of a story-telling and a sentence selection task revealed weak mappings between the indirect evidential marker –mIş and its pragmatic use in story-telling as opposed to intact knowledge of the Turkish evidentiality system in the first-generation immigrant group. The school-age child and adult heritage speakers, on the other hand, were significantly the least accurate groups in both tasks, performing more variably than the 3-6-year-old monolingual children in Turkey. The individual analysis of the child heritage speaker data as well as a comparison of the child-parent dyads further showed that early heritage language experience and use rather than changes in the parental input are likely to be the source of the variability observed in child and eventually in adult Turkish heritage speakers in this domain.

‘Doing Harm Was the Point’

Abstract This article analyses the Trump administration’s policy of forcibly separating thousands of immigrant families at the border. Using a rights-based and childist approach, I explore the policy’s severe consequences for children’s rights to family unity and protection from cruel and degrading treatment. I argue that family separations abandoned the best-interests principle and entailed severe rights violations and due process irregularities. The policy deliberately inflicted suffering and trauma on immigrant families to deter immigrants and coerce asylum-seekers into relinquishing their claims to protection, contrary to treaty obligations and domestic laws. The article also examines the policy’s formulation and implementation, which were characterised by cruelty, chaos and confusion. This case provides incontrovertible evidence of the myriad strategies governments use to exclude immigrant children from the benefits of the global children’s rights regime.

Abstract C007: Disparities in occurrence and outcome of male reproductive cancers in the United States Pacific Islander community

Abstract Data from the National Cancer Database indicates prostate cancer (CPa) prevalence in the Pacific Islander (PI) community to be nearly 1.6 times higher than the national standard. Recent data suggests that prostate cancer rates seen in United States PI men are comparable to that of African American men, the community with the longstanding recognition as having the highest rates of the disease in the US. PIs are defined as those originating from or being indigenous to the islands of Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia including the US governed Hawaiian islands, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and American Samoa. PIs make up a grossly underrepresented minority group, often being overshadowed by their mainland Asian counterparts when aggregated together as a group defined as “AANHPI” in sociological and epidemiological data sets and studies. In addition, Pacific Islanders, at least in the mainland US, are considered a “new” minority population, and with the exception of those indigenous to US territories, the vast majority of the population are post 1970 first or second generation immigrants. Research into health disparities in the PI community is thus unsurprisingly sparse, and there is great work to be done to explore these alarming trends. The purposes of this study are threefold: further explore the data pertaining to prostate cancer prevalence in the pacific islander community; disaggregate the data between ethnic lines; and provide a foundation for future research that can further elucidate the causes and outcomes of this disease in the Pacific Islander community. Data was taken from the 2014 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander National Health Interview Survey (NHPI NHIS). The NHPI NHIS is a national survey administered by the CDC-NCHS to collect disease data including health condition and characteristics, health care access and service utilization but specific to the national NHPI population. Among 2588 participants, 4% indicated ever having been diagnosed with cancer among which prostate cancer was the second most commonly diagnosed. This study relies heavily on large-scale national questionnaires, thus future research should incorporate additional qualitative exploratory research, including targeted and ethnicity-specific canvassing and interviews in order to better understand the real life manifestations of the disease. The preliminary findings highlight an ever growing concern for the health outcomes of this community, and provide compelling evidence in support for both disaggregation of the community from Asian Americans, as well as interethnic disaggregation in data sets. A common thread of distancing between PI communities and the healthcare system was particularly evident, raising the concern that PIs are not being screened early enough and are not seeking life saving medical attention until advanced disease progression. A hopeful outcome of this study is a recognition that more outreach and community work must be done to bridge the gap between PIs and the Western healthcare system in order to mitigate the observed disparities. Citation Format: Nicholas A. Sowizral. Disparities in occurrence and outcome of male reproductive cancers in the United States Pacific Islander community [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C007.

Validation of the Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-M) among First-Generation Asian Immigrants.

Internalized weight bias (i.e., the application of negative weight-based stereotypes to one's self-evaluation) is associated with adverse physical and mental health outcomes. The 10-item version of the Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-M) is one of the most commonly used measures to assess internalized weight bias. However, studies examining the psychometric properties of the WBIS-M are limited in racially minoritized U.S.-based populations. The current study sought to examine the factor structure of the 10-item version of the WBIS-M in a sample of first-generation Asian immigrants, as both native and foreign-born Asian populations have consistently demonstrated higher rates of weight-related concerns relative to other racially minoritized groups. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess the factor structure, and a multiple indicator multiple cause modeling approach was used to assess associations between internalized weight bias and sociodemographic predictors. Results confirm the unidimensionality of the WBIS-M and provide preliminary support for a nine-item version. Identifying as a woman (p = .027) and perceiving oneself as overweight (p < .001) were significantly associated with greater internalized weight bias. When working with Asian and Asian American clients, mental health service providers should be aware of potential weight-related concerns and may consider using the WBIS-M to assess for internalized weight bias.

Abstract B075: Developing a population-based study of South Asian American breast cancer survivors in New Jersey

Abstract Background: South Asian Americans (SAA) are the largest Asian American subgroup in New Jersey (NJ). Breast cancer is a growing health concern among SAA women, who tend to have young age at onset, regional or distant stage disease, and triple negative subtype. However, there is limited health and genetic data from these women to gain fruitful insights into the drivers of their adverse disease characteristics. Purpose: To address the breast cancer-related data gap among SAA women, we recently launched the Cancer Analytics and South Asian Health – Breast Cancer (CANSAH-BC) Study at Rutgers University. This ongoing study is designed to evaluate the impact of lifestyle, reproductive, medical, and germline genetic factors on tumor characteristics and health-related quality-of-life among SAA women. Here, we describe our recruitment and data collection methods, and summarize the characteristics of participants who have completed the study. Methods: We are partnering with the NJ State Cancer Registry (NJSCR) to recruit SAA breast cancer survivors. Eligible women are those identified as SAA by NJSCR, diagnosed with malignant breast cancer in 2018-2020, and age 18-80 years at diagnosis. We are using a validated structured questionnaire to collect data on lifestyle, reproductive, family history, and medical factors, breast cancer treatment history, and health-related quality of life. We are sending saliva sampling kits with a return postage pre-paid envelope to participants, who return their saliva samples to be stored for future genetic studies. To demonstrate feasibility of recruitment and data collection, we are conducting the pilot phase of the CANSAH-BC study with a target sample size of 100 participants. We started the pilot phase in English language and are currently expanding to other South Asian languages. Results: As of May 2023, NJSCR identified 375 eligible women, among which 119 (32%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 27.0% - 36.7%) agreed to participate. Initial contact by NJSCR began in September 2022 and is continuing. Data collection began in December 2022 and has been completed from 26 (22%) of 119 women. Data collection from the remaining participants is underway. Of the 26 participants, 25 (96%, 95% CI: 80.4% - 99.9%) provided a saliva sample. The average age at diagnosis of breast cancer in the 26 participants is 50.9 (SD = 11.8) years, 10 (38%) have at least one family member with breast cancer, 23 (88%) were born in a South Asian country and moved to the U.S. at an average age of 29 years, 7 (27%) have a history of hypertension, and 21 (81%) are either overweight or obese. Conclusion: Our preliminary study showed a relatively high participation rate in the saliva sample component of the CANSAH-BC study. The data suggest evidence of family history of breast cancer, hypertension, overweight or obesity among SAA women with a high percentage first-generation immigrants. This ongoing study represents a unique resource to better understand the drivers of adverse prognosis among South Asian American women diagnosed with breast cancer. Citation Format: Tina Dharamdasani, Prachi Trivedi, Nur Zeinomar, Bo Qin, Lisa Paddock, Antoinette Stroup, Gregory Riedlinger, Shridar Ganesan, Hao Liu, Anita Y. Kinney, Elisa V. Bandera, Jaya M. Satagopan. Developing a population-based study of South Asian American breast cancer survivors in New Jersey [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B075.

국내에서 출생한 이주 아동의 출생등록 문제

A child’s birth registration is a prerequisite for the child to achieve his/her civil status. The birth registration system in Korea has gone through important changes in the past few months. The Act on Registration of Family Relations was amended in June, 2023. Under the new registration law, a child’s birth can be registered by the head of local government. The Act on Confidential Birth was legislated in October, 2023. Under the new law, a pregnant woman can give birth without giving her name to the hospital or civil registry. However, the new registration law does not apply to immigrant children, as the scope of law is limited to the civil registration of Korean nationals. Moreover, immigrant parents might not be able to benefit from the new system due to their fear of deportation.&#x0D; This paper studies legal system of other countries regulating nationality (or citizenship), birth registration, and immigration, in order to design a new registration law which guarantees every child’s birth registration. The countries where children acquire nationality based on his/her parents’ nationality allow birth registration of children of foreign parents. Japan, even though its nationality law and immigration law are as conservative as Korea’s, allows immigrant children’s birth registration. I suggest the Act on Registration of Family Relations be amended so as to allow immigrant children’s birth registration, and the enforcement decree of the Immigration Act also be amended so that the information on foreign parents will not be transferred to the immigration office.

Measuring adaptation with immigrants’ subjective wellbeing: evidence from European countries7

The socio-economic adaptation of immigrants in Europe is the source of great concern both to experts and policy-makers. The literature on the subject regards the traditional approach to measuring the adaptation of foreigners to the host country, invloving the use of indicators such as full-time employment or income level, as insufficient, and advocates a more diversified and inclusive approach. Our study answers this call by taking into account the subjective wellbeing (SWB) of individuals (life satisfaction scores) while researching the socioeconomic adaptation of immigrants in Europe. The main aim of the study is to empirically assess the socio-economic adaptation of firstgeneration immigrants and persons with immigrant background (i.e. those who have at least one immigrant parent) in European states. To this end, we analyse the determinants of the SWB based on the data from the European Social Survey conducted in 2018 in 29 European countries on the population aged 15+. In our model, we use the religious affiliation and religiosity of individuals as an additional measure of cultural identity. We also take into account control variables such as labour market participation, education, marital status and disability. We apply Ordinary Least Squares regression, a method commonly used in analyses of this type. We find that the first-generation immigrant status does not impact directly on the SWB, i.e. the life satisfaction scores of foreign-born persons are similar to those of the local community. What has a more significant influence is the immigrnats’ religious affiliation: Muslims are the religious group dissatisfied with life to the largest extent. Yet, their life satisfaction increases considerably among the second-generation immigrants, i.e. persons who have at least one foreign-born parent. Therefore, our results confirm that the new generation of Muslims with immigrant background born in European host countries is better adapted to the socioeconomic conditions than their parents’ generation or native Muslims.

From Exile to a Global Citizen

In ancient Greek literature and Indian epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana, exile or banishment is depicted as a punishment meted out for sins and crimes committed by humans, whether knowingly or unknowingly. Gradually, from individual/ group punishment, exile evolved into mass exodus resulting from war, conquests and other conflicts. All forms of exiles suffer from the pain and sorrow of leaving behind one’s homeland and belongings. Consequently, the literature produced by exiled poets and writers are filled with nostalgia and agonizing memories. However, over the years, other concerns related to their new lives gain prominence in their writings. This paper attempts to trace the journey of exiles from the past to the present and move towards the future in the writings of diasporic writers of different decades. This paper will focus on the works of V.S. Naipaul, Monica Ali, Zia Haider Rahman and Tarfia Faizullah to discover the newer trends emerging in their texts. V.S. Naipaul’s A House for Mr Biswas (1961) is the epitome of the diasporic writer’s attempt to understand his past in relation to his present. The ownership of a house in the new country is like staking a claim to belong to that country, and Mr. Biswas is desperate to do so. On the other hand, Monical Ali’s Brick Lane, published at the turn of the century, deals with a husband and wife negotiating the difficulties of belonging to a new society. Zia Haider Rahman and Tarfia Faizullah belong to the next group of diaspora writers, who are second generation immigrants growing up in a new land no longer ‘foreign’ to them. The protagonist of Rahman’s novel in The Light of What We Know (2014) successfully confronts problems and complications to ‘belong’ and ‘become’ a British citizen. Tarfia Faizullah, a young Bangladeshi-American poet, uses the history of the War of Independence of Bangladesh to align it with other similar universal discourse of genocide. It appears that figuratively, the exiled writer has now arrived at an acceptable point where s/he is flying out as a global citizen. This transformation of diasporic writers from the periphery to the centre as globally read figures has given rise to the concept of transnationalism. Spectrum, Volume 17, June 2022: 1-11

Differences in Overall Survival for Non-Western Immigrant Patients Compared to Danish-Born Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Background The overall survival (OS) of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have increased in the last decades, but non-Western immigrants with DLBCL may be at risk of poorer OS due to a lower socioeconomic position compared to citizens of the host population. While cancer treatment in Denmark is accessible in a tax-based healthcare system, treatment outcomes may still be affected by factors affecting the patient trajectory prior to treatment, possibly resulting in diagnostic delays, worse clinical features at diagnosis, and prolonged time from diagnosis to treatment. Aims The study aimed to compare OS between non-Western immigrant and Danish-born patients with DLBCL and to investigate differences in clinical and socioeconomic variables. Furthermore, mediators of possible OS differences were investigated to disentangle the causal effect of being a non-Western immigrant (immigration status) on OS. Methods In this Danish retrospective cohort study, patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL in 2000-2020 were identified in the Danish National Lymphoma Registry. Danish citizens born outside Denmark were defined as immigrants, while all citizens born in Denmark, and those immigrants with at least one Danish-born parent with a Danish citizenship, were considered Danish-born citizens. The study did not include second generation immigrants. Patients were followed from diagnosis of DLBCL until death or censoring (31 December 2021 or emigration from Denmark), whichever came first. Crude OS was computed using the Kaplan-Meier estimator and differences in crude OS were tested using the log-rank test. An inverse probability weighted (IPW) Cox model considering age, sex, and calendar year as confounders were used to obtain the total causal effect of immigration status on OS. Furthermore, a mediation analysis on the effect of immigration status on survival was performed using a natural effects Cox model considering age-adjusted International Prognostic Index (aaIPI), Income quartile, and cohabitation status as mediators, while controlling for confounders. Results A total of 254 non-Western immigrant and 7,901 Danish-born patients with DLBCL were included. Median age at diagnosis was 58 and 69, and the proportion of low-risk patients (aaIPI 0) was 29.8 % and 24.3%, respectively. No clinically significant differences in time-to-treatment were found, with a median of 21 days (IQR; 10 - 28) for non-Western immigrant patients and 17 days (IQR; 9 - 27) for Danish-born patients (Table 1). Crude 5-year OS was 68% (95% CI; 63 - 74) and 57% (56 - 58) for non-Western immigrant and Danish-born patients, respectively (P &amp;lt; 0.001, Figure 1). The IPW Cox model yielded a hazard ratio (HR) for all-cause mortality for non-Western immigrants compared to Danish-born patients of 1.02 (0.94 - 1.11, P = 0.541), indicating an insignificant causal effect of immigration status on OS. By considering the indirect effect on OS mediated through aaIPI, difference in aaIPI between non-Western immigrant and Danish-born patients did not significantly impact OS with a HR of 0.98 (0.88 - 1.09, P = 0.713). Similarly, the indirect effect mediated through cohabitation was insignificant with a HR of 1.00 (0.90 - 1.12, P = 0.987). Lastly, the indirect effect mediated through income quartile was significant with a HR of 1.19 (1.06 - 1.32, P = 0.002). The direct effect of immigration status, which was not mediated through any of the above mediators, was 0.88 (0.78 - 0.99, P = 0.035). This implies that the income disparity between non-Western immigrant and Danish-born patients (indirect effect) has a significant negative effect on the survival of the non-Western immigrant patients, and that there is an unexplained (direct) positive effect of being a non-Western immigrant patient on OS compared to Danish-born patients. Conclusion We found that non-Western immigrant patients were younger, had similar aaIPI risk scores and time-to-treatment, and superior crude OS compared to Danish-born patients, with differences in crude OS most likely driven by age differences. The indirect effect of immigration status mediated through income was found significantly negative for the non-Western immigrants, while the unexplained (direct) effect was found significantly positive, seemingly cancelling each other out, resulting in an insignificant total causal effect.

Competence and affect self-concepts of elementary school children – Do gender and immigration background play a role?

ABSTRACT By focusing on 179 elementary school children, the present cross-sectional questionnaire study aimed to examine gender and immigrant-native differences in competence and affect self-concepts as well as academic achievement and the relations of those two self-concept components to academic achievement in the domains of mathematics and German. Results of analysis of variance showed that boys’ competence self-concept in mathematics was more positive than that of girls, while girls’ affect self-concept in German was more positive than that of boys. Immigrant children showed a higher affect self-concept in German than native-born peers. Boys’ superior competence self-concept in mathematics was more pronounced for native-born children than immigrant peers, whereas immigrant girls’ competence self-concept in mathematics was more pronounced than that of native-born girls. Competence self-concepts were more highly related to academic achievement than affect self-concepts.

Like parent, like child: how attitudes towards immigrants spill over to the political inclusion of their children

ABSTRACT Across Europe, citizenship is traditionally attributed at birth through descent only. As immigrant populations grow, policy-makers have come under pressure to extend citizenship rights to the children of immigrants born in the country. While such inclusive measures often counter political opposition, public attitudes on this question remain remarkably underexplored. In this study, we report on the results of an original choice-based conjoint survey experiment designed to examine which parental attributes affect respondents’ willingness to grant citizenship to newborns. We implement the survey experiment in Italy, where over one million children do not have Italian citizenship, yet reform proposals have so far been unsuccessful. In line with our pre-registered expectations, we find that respondents are more likely to support birthright citizenship for children born to parents who are economically, legally and socially integrated in society. These attitudes vary little by political background, education and age-category of respondents. Our findings suggest that incorporating immigration-related conditionality in birthright citizenship proposals is key to convincing sceptical publics of the legitimacy of such measures.

Guided Play Supporting Immigrant Children’s Participation and Bilingual Development in Preschools

In recent decades, refugee immigration has had significant impact on educational contexts in Sweden, with preschools the primary arenas for young children’s language learning experiences. The present study examines second language and literacy training practices for immigrant children (aged 1–5) in preschools in Sweden. The empirical data consist of video recordings of teacher-guided play activities. These were designed to create rich linguistic and cultural environments facilitating active and democratic participation by the children. Guided play activities were developed in close collaboration between teachers and researchers during action-based interventions that were aimed at constructing child-oriented participatory language learning practices in ethnically and linguistically diverse ECEC settings. The children’s first languages were Tigrinya, Arabic dialects, Somalian, Kurdish dialects, Russian, Spanish and Swedish. The participatory learning potential of guided play was collaboratively analyzed and assessed, and new and revised activities were implemented, based on the goals of inclusivity and children’s active engagement in play and language learning. The analysis shows that teachers’ use of multimodal semiotic means, such as questions, texts and cultural artifacts (stories, material story-related objects, play spaces) were important strategies for the preparation of appealing play environments and activities that contributed to children’s curiosity and participation. These resources served as affordances for guided play, allowing the simultaneous scaffolding of children’s play competencies and their language learning.

The role of school-based creative expression interventions in the aftermath of migration: A qualitative exploration of parents' and teachers' perspectives

This study explored supportive relational processes for immigrant children's well-being between peers, teachers, and parents in the development of school-based creative interventions in European multi-ethnic societies. Within the present study, we integrated the perspectives of teachers and parents to broaden the dominant focus on the assessment of individual symptomatology within the existing body of studies of school-based interventions studies. As a part of a larger multi-method study on the implementation of a creative expression program for immigrant children ages 8–12 years in three schools in Belgium, we conducted focus group discussions to learn parents' and teachers' perspectives on the role of school-based creative interventions in children's coping with histories of migration and life in exile. Parents and teachers identified the need for the intervention to foster emotional expression impacting children's self-esteem and social connectedness with peers and to foster emotional connections between parents, teachers, and children. Parents also stressed the importance of the intervention within society as a forum to engage with social conditions, promote cultural belonging, and social integration. Results identified the importance of school-based interventions in terms of individual benefits as well as connectedness and coherence in entire communities, thereby strengthening the development of transcultural research evidence for school-based interventions in multi-ethnic societies.

Imigranci z Azji Południowo-Wschodniej w polityce zagranicznej Tajwanu

SOUTHEAST ASIAN IMMIGRANTS IN TAIWANESE FOREIGN POLICYThis article, through the analysis of the situation of permanent and labor immigrants in Taiwan, will try to show the different facets of Taiwanese foreign policy aimed at the Southeast Asian region. Announced by President Tsai Ingwen, the so-called New Southward Policy focuses on talent cultivation and industrial, commercial, cultural, educational and tourism exchanges. Its direct consequence is the exponentially increasing number of ASEAN nationals on the island, who come to Taiwan lured by the high standard of living and opportunities for high wages. From the perspective of the Taiwanese government, a special role is played by the second generation of immigrants from Southeast Asia, who are presented in popular discourse as the future of an island plagued by typical problems of developed countries such as low birth rates and gentrification.

Göçmen Öğrencilerin İlk Okuma Yazma Öğrenme Sürecinde Karşılaştıkları Sorunlara İlişkin Öğretmen Görüşleri

Due to adverse living conditions, healthcare system issues, natural disasters, wars, famine, etc., people migrate to different countries every day to start a new life as immigrants. Recently, Türkiye has received migration flows due to wars in Syria and Ukraine. Additionally, there have been migrations from countries with low living standards, such as Afghanistan and Pakistan. It can be said that children are the most affected group by these migrations. Educational support programs have been implemented for students coming through migration. Especially during the initial stages of learning to read and write, immigrant children have faced significant challenges. The aim of this study is to identify and evaluate the problems encountered in the process of teaching initial reading and writing to immigrant students, according to the views of teachers. As the focus is on identifying the problems encountered in the initial reading and writing instruction of immigrant students, a qualitative research method has been employed in the study. Among the qualitative research designs, "case study" has been preferred. The study was conducted in the spring semester of the 2022-2023 academic year in Denizli and Şanlıurfa. Participants are primary school teachers working in state schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education. The "criterion sampling method" was used in selecting participants, considering the criterion of "teachers with immigrant students in their classes." These students are refugees or have refugee status and have a foreign background. A total of 49 (34 female, 15 male) primary school teachers were reached in the research. Teachers participated in the study on a voluntary basis. A researcher-developed personal information form and an open-ended question form were used to obtain research data. The open-ended question form was developed with expert opinions. Participants in the sample were reached through Google Forms or directly. Content analysis was employed in data analysis. The data were transferred to the computer, and codes were identified. Related codes were grouped together to reach sub-themes. Sub-themes were combined to form themes. When explaining themes and sub-themes, direct quotations were included. According to the results obtained from the research, parents cannot assist their children's studies at home adequately because they do not know Turkish well enough. The majority of immigrant students, due to not having received preschool education, have readiness levels below what is expected. These students experience difficulties in pronouncing certain letters, writing from left to right, speaking and understanding Turkish, and communicating with their peers. According to teachers' views, even if immigrant students somehow learn to read, they struggle to comprehend what they read. These students cannot read sentences meaningfully because they are not familiar with the stress and intonation of Turkish. They also face difficulties in writing letters of the Latin alphabet because they are not familiar enough with them.