Immigrant Children Research Articles

Prevalence and disease disability in immigrants with multiple sclerosis in Malmö, southern Sweden

BackgroundMultiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system and the major non-traumatic cause of permanent disability in young adults. Several migration studies have been performed over the years suggesting a pattern of higher disease disability in certain ethnic groups. To our knowledge, differences in disease progression in immigrants have not been studied in Sweden before. Thus, the aims of our study were to estimate the prevalence of multiple sclerosis among first-generation immigrants in the City of Malmö and to compare differences in disease severity with the native population. MethodsAll persons with multiple sclerosis living in Malmö on prevalence day 31 Dec 2010 were included. Cases were classified according to the country of birth into Scandinavians, Western and non-Western. ResultsThe crude prevalence was 100/100,000 (95% CI, 80–124) among first-generation immigrants, 154/100,000 (95% CI, 137–173) among individuals with Scandinavian background, 123/100,000 (95% CI, 94–162) in the Western group and 76/100,000 (95% CI, 53–108) in the non-Western group. The mean Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS) value among Scandinavians was 4.2 (SD 3.5), whereas the figures in the immigrant group were 4.6 (SD 3.3) and 5.2 (SD 3.7) among Westerns respectively non-Westerns, which differences were not statistically significant. When adjusting for gender, age at onset and initial disease course, the mean MSSS difference between the non-Western and the Scandinavian individuals was 1.7 (95% CI 0.18–3.3, p = 0.030). There were no differences on time to diagnosis or the time from diagnosis to treatment initiation between the three groups. ConclusionsWe found a lower prevalence among Western and non-Western first-generation immigrants compared to the Scandinavian population and a more severe disease in non-Western immigrants than in Scandinavians.

An unlevel playing field: Immigrant assimilation and welfare utilization

This paper investigates the existence and mechanisms of segmentation in the welfare assimilation process of first-generation immigrants in the Netherlands. Using longitudinal administrative data (2007–2015) from Statistics Netherlands (CBS), we estimate the welfare utilization trajectories of migrants over the working-age life course vis-à-vis two reference groups representing different economic segments from the population, namely: average Dutch natives and Dutch natives with low education level. Empirical evidence shows a predominant trend of mainstream assimilation; however, two findings with more concerning implications should be highlighted. Welfare assimilation into the economically disadvantaged segment is found to concentrate among first-generation immigrants characterized by structural and human capital disadvantages, despite the notable extent of upward intragenerational mobility observed. In the worst-case scenario, there seems to be a lack of welfare assimilation to the comparison segments, raising concerns over the prospective emergence of marginalized ethnic groups at the bottom of the economic ladder. The implications of this finding are twofold. Firstly, automatic closing of the migrant-native gap over time should not be presumed in the absence of a level playing field for all regardless of their migration backgrounds. Secondly, systematic discrepancies observed between refugees and other types of migrants in terms of welfare assimilation patterns and determinants point to the need to have a clear distinction between immigration policy and refugee policy, which explicitly avoids bundling all migrants as one homogenous group.

Influence of biopsychosocial factors on self-reported anxiety/depression symptoms among first-generation immigrant population in the U.S.

Despite increasing studies on mental health among immigrants, there are limited studies using nationally representative samples to examine immigrants' mental health and its potential biopsychosocial contributing factors, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. We explored and estimated the influence of life satisfaction, social/emotional support, and other biopsychosocial factors on self-reported anxiety/depression symptoms among a nationally representative sample of first-generation immigrants in the U.S. We conducted a secondary data analysis using the 2021 National Health Interview Survey among first-generation adults aged ≥ 18 years (n = 4295). We applied survey weights and developed multivariable logistic regression model to evaluate the study objective. The prevalence of daily, weekly, or monthly anxiety/depression symptoms was 10.22% in the first-generation immigrant population. There were 2.04% daily, 3.27% weekly, and 4.91% monthly anxiety/depression among the population: about 8.20%, 9.94%, and 9.60% experienced anxiety symptoms, whereas 2.49%, 3.54%, and 5.34% experienced depression symptoms daily, weekly, and monthly, respectively. The first-generation population aged 26-49 years were less likely to experience anxiety/depression daily, weekly, or monthly compared to those aged 18-25. Females (versus males) were more likely to experience anxiety/depression daily, weekly, or monthly. Those who identified as gay/lesbian had higher odds of experiencing anxiety/depression daily, weekly, or monthly compared to heterosexual persons. Relative to non-Hispanic White individuals, non-Hispanic Asian, Black/African American, and Hispanic individuals had lower odds, while other/multi-racial/ethnic groups were more likely to experience anxiety/depression daily, weekly, or monthly. A higher life satisfaction score was associated with lower odds of experiencing anxiety/depression daily, weekly, or monthly. Having social/emotional support sometimes/rarely or using healthcare within the past one/two years was associated with experiencing anxiety/depression daily, weekly, or monthly. The findings reveal significant burden of anxiety and depression among first-generation population in the U.S., with higher risks among subgroups like young adults, females, sexual minorities, and non-Hispanic White and other/multi-racial individuals. Additionally, individuals with lower life satisfaction scores, limited social/emotional support, or healthcare utilization in the past one or two years present increased risk. These findings highlight the need for personalized mental health screening and interventions for first-generation individuals in the U.S. based on their diversity and health-related risks.

Membangun Semangat Belajar dan Nasionalisme dengan Memperkenalkan Budaya Indonesia di Sanggar Bimbingan Kuala Langat

This article is the result of Community Service Activities, which are a form of implementation of KKN-Dik batch 5 and a form of participation to help fulfill the educational rights of the children of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) in Malaysia as stated in the 1945 Constitution " Berperan dalam mencerdaskan kehidupan bangsa " by applying values -the value of love for the homeland. This service aims to foster the character of love for the homeland in immigrant children in Selangor, namely SB Kuala Langat students. Implementing this service is by applying learning methods in the classroom combined with nationalist values to foster a character attitude of love for the country through learning and playing activities based on nationalist values. The children of immigrant workers still lack the character of love for their homeland, so it is necessary to implement learning methods that foster enthusiasm for learning and increase their sense of love for their country to strengthen their identity as children of the Indonesian nation. The sense of nationalism must always be believed by the children of the Indonesian nation, wherever they are. Therefore, guiding efforts to foster a love for the homeland is very necessary for immigrant children in Selangor, especially for students at the SB Kuala Langat.

Supporting Latinx immigrant children and families in the transition to elementary school

AbstractCurrent approaches to supporting students in the transition to elementary school fail to meet the needs of Latinx immigrant children and their families in the United States. Typical approaches place the responsibility on families to help their children adapt to the expectations of their teacher, classroom, and school without recognizing the specific barriers to participation faced by Latinx immigrant parents. In this article, we describe these barriers and consider the ways community‐based practice can support and prioritize co‐constructed partnerships among teachers, schools, parents, and communities.

Have immigrant children been left behind in COVID-19 testing rates? - A quantitative study in the Lisbon metropolitan area between march 2020 and may 2023.

Immigrant children often encounter additional barriers in accessing health care than their peers. However, there is a lack of evidence globally regarding how migrant status may have affected access to COVID-19 testing during the pandemic. This study aimed to analyze migrant status as a determinant of COVID-19 testing rates among children in the Lisbon metropolitan area, Portugal. This cross-sequential study included 722 children aged 2-8 years (47% non-immigrants; 53% immigrants). We collected data from a national surveillance system on laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 tests conducted between March 2020 and May 2023 and assessed whether children were ever tested for COVID-19 and testing frequency. We employed robust and standard Poisson regression models to estimate Adjusted Prevalence Ratios and Relative Risks with 95% confidence intervals. A total of 637 tests were performed. Immigrant children had lower testing rates (53% vs. 48%) and fewer tests per child (median: 2 vs. 3). Moreover, they were 17% less likely to be ever tested (PR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.76-0.89) and performed 26% fewer tests (RR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.67-0.82) compared to non-immigrant children. Caregiver's age, education, employment status, child's birth weight, and perceived health status were associated factors. Our findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has left immigrant children somewhat behind. We conclude that specific interventions targeting vulnerable populations, such as immigrant children, are needed in future health crises.

Impact of talker variability on language development in two-year-olds.

This research investigated the impact of the number of talkers with whom children engage in daily conversation on their language development. Two surveys were conducted in 2020, targeting two-year-olds growing up in Japanese monolingual families. Caregivers reported the number of talkers in three age groups and children's productive vocabulary via questionnaires. The results demonstrated significant effects of variability in talkers in fifth grade or above in Study 1 (N = 50; male = 23; r = .372) and in adult talkers in Study 2 (N = 175; non-nursery going; male = 76; r = .184) on children's vocabulary development, after controlling for language exposure time and demographic variables. Possible mediating factors are discussed. This research extends previous findings from immigrant bilingual children to monolingual speakers in Japan, suggesting the potential contribution of available talkers other than caregivers in conversational environments.

Gathering strengths and building capitals: engaging Chinese immigrant grandparents in a collaborative project

AbstractThe significance of family involvement in early childhood services has been recognised as crucial for enhancing the educational outcomes of young children, particularly among those from minority and immigration backgrounds. Extensive research has been conducted on collaborative practices between immigrant parents and early childhood communities, but it may be useful to pursue further efforts targeting immigrant grandparents, given their substantial influence on children’s learning and development. This study reports one initiative that involves a team comprising council officers, early childhood educators and Chinese grandparents within a local government area in Australia to design and implement a collaborative project that gathers capitals and strengths in order to support grandparents’ active engagement in Chinese immigrant children’s learning while enhancing their confidence in working with early childhood educators and local communities. Unlike other parenting programmes that aims to enhance parents’ knowledge and practices, this project elicits and celebrates working strategies of everyone involved. Employing the concepts of symbolic capital and strengths-based approach as theoretical frameworks, the flow of resources, strengths and values is embedded in this collaborative effort as an overarching theme. This paper explores how the theme is realised in the project process through workshops, reflective meetings and online and face to face discussions.

An examination of child welfare agency models that serve immigrant children and families

ABSTRACT Child welfare agencies often experience challenges in meeting the unique needs of immigrant families. In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with child welfare agency representatives to examine models used to effectively serve this population. Findings show that child welfare agencies utilize: 1) specialization of immigrant-related knowledge and skill sets; 2) formal and informal relationships with consulates and external stakeholders; and 3) innovative approaches to engage immigrant families. Implications highlight the importance of child welfare staff developing expertise on immigration policy, navigating international borders and systems, and training caseworkers in implementing culturally and linguistically sensitive transnational engagement strategies.

Do immigrants support environmentalism? – Immigrants’ environmental socialization in the United States

As globalisation continues, heated debates over immigrants’ environmental behaviours in the U.S. have been prominent in recent years. While research has generally focused on the association between political affiliation and pro-environmental values, only a few studies have specifically explored immigrants’ pro-environmental values in the U.S. Utilizing a pooled dataset spanning 3 years (2017, 2020, and 2022) from the Cooperative Election Study and employing a multilevel model, we empirically tested three hypotheses regarding immigrants’ pro-environmental attitudes: the globalization hypothesis, the prosperity hypothesis, and the political socialization hypothesis. Our results supported all three hypotheses. On average, immigrants exhibited higher environmental scores than the native-born population. In addition, we identified generational differences, with the 1st generation immigrants showing the highest environmental scores, while the 2nd generation immigrants fell between the 1st generation and the native-born. Compared to the native-born population, party affiliation played a smaller role in immigrants’ formation of pro-environmental values. Democratic immigrants tended to be less pro-environment than democratic locals, while Republican immigrants were more pro-environment than Republican locals.

A Mixed-Methods Exploration of Legal Vulnerability, Trauma, and Psychological Wellbeing in Immigrant Caregivers and Youth

(1) Background: Immigrant families in the U.S. face a myriad of migration-related stressors and trauma, and legal vulnerability can further compound such stressors, influencing both immigrant caregiver and child wellbeing. This study explored the relationships between legal vulnerability, trauma, and migration and their effects on caregiving, psychological distress, and resilience in immigrant families. (2) Methods: In total, 37 Latinx immigrant caregiver–child dyads from a community sample were interviewed and completed self-report measures on their experiences of migration, trauma, psychological functioning, and parent–child relationships. (3) Results: Using a community-based, sequential quantitative-qualitative design, person-centered analyses revealed two caregiver clusters: “Personalizing Stress” and “Meaning-making”. Exemplar case analyses characterized differences between clusters, particularly related to trauma symptoms, in which the “meaning-making” cluster endorsed higher levels of psychological functioning and wellbeing compared to the “personalizing stress” cluster, in which the process of creating meaning from adversity appeared to function as a resilience resource for the “meaning-making” cluster. While most indicators of caregiver–child wellbeing were not correlated, family legal vulnerability was strongly correlated with high resilience in children. (4) Conclusions: Clinicians should attend to the resilience resources that immigrant families from legally vulnerable communities utilize, including meaning-making.

Generosity's double‐edged sword: Unmasking the impact of raised social assistance rates in Norway

AbstractAs long as welfare arrangements have been in existence, there has been a strong belief that high‐benefit generosity leads to welfare reliance. In this study, we investigate whether an increase in welfare generosity in Norway resulted in higher social assistance (SA) uptake and decreased engagement in paid work. By utilizing high‐quality administrative data and employing a difference‐in‐difference design, we find no overall effects on SA or work activity. However, we do observe a significant reduction in work activity and an increase in SA for specific predefined high‐risk groups, which are believed to be particularly responsive to financial incentives. Thus, we discover evidence of unfavorable effects for child families, non‐Western immigrants, and the combined group of non‐Western immigrant child families. These latter findings are interpreted in light of the particular socioeconomic circumstances of these groups.

Switching from Deferasirox Dispersible Tablets to Deferasirox Film-Coated Tablets: Is There an Effect on Ferritin Levels in Children and Adolescents with Transfusion-Dependent Anemia?

To investigate the effect of switching from deferasirox dispersible tablet (DT) to deferasirox film-coated tablet (FCT) on serum ferritin (SF) levels in transfusion-dependent patients. Patients who received regular erythrocyte transfusion and whose treatment was switched from DT to FCT were included in the study. FCT start date was taken as the index date. Patients were followed over 2 equal and long periods, both before and after index date. Thirty-two patients were included, and the comparison periods ranged from 4 to 12 months. The SF values increased from a median of 1723 ng/mL (range 717-5369 ng/mL) to 1.853 ng/mL (range 924-5478 ng/mL) after switching from DT to FCT (P = .036). While there was a significant increase in median SF after switching in Turkish patients (1467 ng/mL to 1778 ng/ mL, P = .010) and patients ≥12 years (1598-1848 ng/mL, P = .009), there was an insignificant (P = .859) decrease in SF in immigrant children. Considering only the post-switch period, there was a non-significant increase in median SF in the entire cohort, while SF decreased significantly in immigrant children (P = .026). No serious side effects were observed in any patient that would cause discontinuation of treatment. Overall, higher SF value was observed with FCT compared to DT in short term. There were different results between patient groups. Our results suggest that FCT is more effective than DT in patients with high basal ferritin and who are actually incompatible with treatment and should be preferred first in these patients.

“If the college adjusted the prices…”: comparing food secure and insecure college students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: We examined how students’ food insecurity related to their demographic information, academic experiences, use of food programs, and reflections on food during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants: 246 NYC undergraduates during the first 9 months of the pandemic. Methods: Students reported on food insecurity (eg, USDA’s 10-item AFSSM), household income, impact of food insecurity on academics, GPA, and use of food programs. They wrote two food narratives. Results: 135 (54.88%) participants reported high food security; 51 (20.73%) reported low or very low food security. Compared to high food security students, low and very low-security students were more likely to identify as Black and first-generation immigrants, reported lower household income, more frequently used food programs, had a lower GPA, reported more academic difficulties, and wrote more often about financial and programmatic difficulties related to food. Conclusions: Food-insecure students need greater financial, academic, and programmatic support during public health crises.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Two Parent–Child Parallel Interventions to Enhance Positive Adaptation of Immigrant Families in Hong Kong: The Moderating Role of Depressive Symptoms

Parents and children who have recently immigrated from the Chinese mainland to Hong Kong face various challenges, including psychological and sociocultural adaptation difficulties. In collaboration with community partners, our research team has developed and implemented culturally sensitive and preventive parent–child parallel interventions to enhance positive adaptation among immigrant parents and children. Two interventions were conducted in this randomized controlled trial: an emotion regulation (ER) arm, which addressed psychological adaptation by reducing parent–child conflicts and improving emotions, and an information provision (IP) arm targeting sociocultural adaptation by increasing participants’ knowledge about Hong Kong. The study randomly assigned 113 and 73 parent–child pairs (allocation ratio 3:2) into the ER and IP arms, respectively. Parents and children attended four two-hour weekly sessions of their assigned intervention and completed assessments before, immediately after, and one month following the intervention. The results showed that in the ER arm, parents showed improved positive affect, and children reported decreases in parent–child conflicts more than their counterparts in the IP arm. In the IP arm, parents and children increased their knowledge, and parents decreased sociocultural adaptation difficulties more than their counterparts in the ER arm. In addition, the moderation analyses showed that in both interventions, parents and children with elevated baseline depressive symptoms obtained greater benefits relative to their counterparts with fewer symptoms. Such marked improvements were seen among parents in negative affect and adaptation difficulties and among children in parent–child conflict, positive and negative affect in the ER arm. More improvements were noted among parents in negative affect and sociocultural adaptation difficulties and among children in negative affect in the IP arm. Future studies are suggested to develop and provide parent–child parallel interventions targeting both psychological and sociocultural adaptations to parents and children with heightened baseline depressive symptoms to facilitate their positive adaptation in Hong Kong.

An Analysis of Individual, Parental, and Family Determinants of Gifted Placement among Children of Immigrants – Evidence from the 2014 SIPP Data

An Analysis of Individual, Parental, and Family Determinants of Gifted Placement among Children of Immigrants – Evidence from the 2014 SIPP Data

Stress Among Immigrants in the United States

ABSTRACT Background Immigrants comprise a sizable proportion (15%) of the population living in the United States (U.S.). Given these proportions, it is imperative that we understand immigrant experiences of well-being and stress toward improved well-being and integration. Methods To examine the experiences of first- and second-generation immigrants using a comparative approach, we utilized data from two surveys collected under Trump (n = 490) and Biden (n = 306) administrations. Both studies employed non-probability quota and convenience sampling techniques. Questions about experiences of stress (PSS-4), discrimination (Everyday Discrimination Scale), resilience (Brief Resilience Scale), border stress (Border Community and Immigration Stress Scale), immigration policies (general questions) were included in the surveys. Each study sample included diverse racial groups across both immigrant generations. We report frequencies, descriptive statistics, and ANOVAs/post hoc test results. Results Findings highlight that levels of both stress and discrimination among non-White participants under the Trump administration were significantly higher than those of White participants, though neither relationship was significant under the Biden administration. Further, White participants exhibited higher resilience under the Trump administration, but not under the Biden administration. Discussion and Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first study to comparatively examine immigrant experiences under the two most recent federal administrations. This study is seminal in highlighting discussions and making policy recommendations to limit immigrant exclusion, curtail exclusionary policies regarding travel bans, and improve pathways to citizenship, enhancing immigrant integration in the U.S. Roles of social workers in supporting immigrant communities and pathways for future research with immigrants are discussed.

Greek People, the Orthodox Religion and Resilience in the Time of Crisis

This paper examines the role of religion in supporting health and the significance this has on emotional wellbeing in time of crisis for individuals of Greek Australian background. Melbourne, Australia, has a large Greek community whose oldest members were born in Greece and emigrated to Australia 50-60 years ago. The children and grandchildren of these immigrants were born in Australia but often see themselves as members of a cultural community distinct from the English-speaking mainstream. In addition to language, one of the most significant cultural factors handed down by the immigrant generation is a belief in the importance of religion and religious rituals in maintaining health. These rituals and beliefs are also a powerful tool for coping in times of crisis, illness and other challenges. Its findings are based on several qualitative studies undertaken in Melbourne between 2011-2016. The individuals that participated in these studies relied on religious faith and traditional practices to support them in times of crisis. Their specific beliefs reflect orthodox theology but also folk practices specific to this community and can be applied to wellbeing and resilience shown by this population in times of crisis. They have a strong belief in destiny and generally accept that God provides the means for addressing negative conditions. This paper describes the nature of their beliefs and outlines the ways in which religion serves as the basis for their resilience and ability to cope with adversity. Keywords: Greek people, Orthodox religion, faith, resilience, crisis

Climate drivers of migration and neglected tropical disease burden in Latin American and Caribbean immigrants: A pilot study in Atlanta, Georgia

IntroductionClimate change has negatively impacted the agricultural and socioeconomic infrastructure of Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries leading to conditions that promote human migration. It has also led to emergence and reemergence of infectious diseases. This pilot study aimed to identify climate-related drivers of migration and to describe the burden of climate-sensitive neglected tropical diseases (NTD) in immigrants living in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. MethodsFirst generation immigrants from LAC countries living in the Atlanta-metro area were recruited between May and December 2021. Participants completed a survey concerning demographics, socioeconomics, living conditions in their country of origin and living conditions in Atlanta, and motivations for migration. Blood and stool samples were collected to identify Chagas disease and soil-transmitted helminths, and skin exams screened for leprosy and leishmaniasis. Descriptive, univariate, and multivariable analyses of this dataset looked at the association between a climate-driven motivation to migrate and geographic and socioeconomic factors. ResultsFifty-seven individuals were recruited representing 11 LAC countries of origin. Most originated from Central America (n = 32; 56 %) and Mexico (n = 13; 23%). Forty-two participants reported a change in climate or weather in their country of origin prior to moving and direct climate drivers of migration (e.g., floods, drought, etc.) were identified by 12 participants (21.1%). Infectious diseases screening found one definitive case of Chagas (2.5%) out of 40 blood samples screened. Food insecurity was significantly associated with a climate-related factor for migrating: aOR = 6.3 (95 % CI 1.1, 35.5). ConclusionsWhile most participants did not directly identify “climate change” as a reason for migration, our study reveals many factors such as food insecurity, agricultural occupations, and region of origin that may underlie climate-motivated migration. Finding one case of Chagas was also noteworthy and shows the need for improved surveillance for this important NTD.

Religiosity, Aging in the Homeland, and Growing Old in the Diaspora: A Longitudinal Study of Two Cohorts of Indian Older Adults.

This article reports a longitudinal study comparing religiosity among two cohorts of Indian older adults-those who age in the homeland of India (AIH cohort) and immigrants (to the USA) or diaspora older adults (DOA). Results indicated that AIH and DOA cohorts' religiosity outcomes were comparable at baseline but there was a statistically significant increase in all outcomes of the DOA cohort at subsequent time points. Women and single older adults in both the cohorts had higher religiosity scores at baseline. Religiosity scores were higher among those in the DOA cohort who migrated following marital disruption (widowhood, divorce) or grandchild birth and lived with adult immigrant children and their families. The immigration process can have an impact on religious orientation of older adults and place is a significant variable impacting religiosity possibly for augmenting the sense of self, acquire social capital and preserve cultural identity in the foreign land.