Foreign-born Families Research Articles

Deciphering the ‘cosmopolitan grid’: The production of space in diversifying heartland neighbourhoods of Singapore

Global capital and highly-skilled international labour are sought by cities for economic growth. Much research has been about Western cities, but less is known about how pro-growth developmental Asian countries, which have become key global hubs, organise their urban planning and policy efforts to gain global capital and skilled labour in their cities. In Singapore, the state is active in reshaping the city into a ‘cosmopolitan grid’ by planning and developing new urban amenity spaces that can attract human capital to fuel the desired urban growth, such as international schools, private housing options, and access to a global selection of goods and services. Oftentimes, the socio-cultural and socio-spatial changes at the neighbourhood level are seemingly ignored, despite the significance of the neighbourhood as a critical social space for the daily practice and formation of social relations in demographically diverse cities. Drawing on cognitive mapping interviews with foreign-born and native-born residents in two upper-middle income suburban neighbourhoods in Singapore, which are recognised as the heartlands of the native-born but have become popular with highly-skilled foreign-born families (namely Western expatriates) in the last decade, this article shows how the top-down rational production of cosmopolitan space by the state framed in a formation of the ‘cosmopolitan grid’ has played out and shaped the everyday production of social space among the native and foreign-born residents which determines the experience and opportunities for integration in this city-state.

Immigration Status, Socioeconomic Status, and Self-Rated Health in Europe.

The literature has established a protective effect of socioeconomic status (SES) indicators on health. However, at least in the US, these SES indicators tend to generate fewer health gains for marginalized groups including immigrants. As this literature mainly originated in the US, it is necessary to study whether these indicators similarly correlate with the health of foreign-born and native-born individuals in Europe. The current study was based on the Marginalization-related Diminished Returns (MDRs) theory and compared the effects of three SES indicators, namely parental education, own education and income, on self-rated health (SRH) of immigrant and native-born individuals. We used data from the European Social Survey 2020 (ESS 2020). Participants included 14,213 individuals who identified as either native-born (n = 9052) or foreign-born (n = 508). Education, income, and parental education were the independent variables. Self-rated health (SRH) was the outcome. Age and sex were covariates. Linear regression and logistic regression were used for data analysis. Overall, high education, income, and parental education were associated with lower odds of poor SRH. We documented a statistical interaction between immigration status and parental education, indicating a weaker inverse association between parental education and poor SRH for foreign-born than native-born individuals. The links between some but not all SES indicators vary across foreign-born and native-born individuals in Europe. Host countries seem to undervalue the parental educational attainment of foreign-born families. Future research should explore the role of time, period, cohort and country of origin as well as host country and associated policies in equalizing returns of SES indicators on the health of population subgroups. The results are important given that most studies on MDRs are developed in the US, and less is known about Europe. The results are also very important given the growing anti-immigrant sentiment and nationalist movements in Europe and the rest of the world.

Parent-child relationships in Latinx families: The role of immigrant concentration, residential stability, and generational status.

Prior research links neighborhood immigrant concentration and residential stability to individual health outcomes. It remains unclear how neighborhood social organization extend to family functioning among immigrant families. Expanding the scope of research on neighborhoods and family relationships, this study draws on data from 1417 Latinx families (Myouth age = 10.19 years, SDyouth age = 3.34) to: (1) examine associations between neighborhood immigrant concentration, residential stability, and parent-child warmth and conflict in Latinx families, and (2) test whether associations vary by family generational status. Multilevel mod3els revealed that associations between immigrant concentration and parent-child relationships were contingent on residential stability, and that the association differed according to generational status. In general, stable neighborhoods with larger immigrant populations were associated with more warmth and less conflict for first- and second-generation families relative to foreign-born families. Discussion centers on the conditional role of neighborhood structural characteristics for family relationships among Latinx families and advances directions for future research on neighborhoods and families.

An exploratory study of the pathways into homelessness among of foreign-born and Canadian-born families: a timeline mapping approach

ABSTRACT Despite the growing number of foreign-born homeless families in Canada, few studies have investigated their experiences prior to becoming homeless. To address this gap, this study explored the pathways into homelessness for foreign-born families and compared these pathways to those of Canadian-born families. Timeline mapping and in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 23 foreign-born and 13 Canadian-born homeless families residing in emergency family shelters. Findings showed that there was greater diversity in the homeless pathways of foreign-born families than Canadian-born families. Foreign-born families discussed the impact their immigration experiences had on their financial and housing instability and how social isolation, traumatic experiences, and the difficult emotions associated with fleeing an unsafe country made life before homelessness even more challenging. Canadian-born families spoke about their experiences with poverty, homelessness, and housing instability – all of which started during childhood. They navigated these challenges while dealing with the loss of relationships, health issues, family separation, and violence. Despite these differences, both groups reported similar service experiences and structural and systemic barriers to stable housing.

Motherlines Conceived from Disparate Roots

AbstractIn the 70 years since E. Franklin Frazier published The Negro Family in the United States (1948), black communities have witnessed the arrival of black immigrants in unprecedented numbers. Literature on this population suggests that, although African American, African, and Afro-Caribbean families are similarly marginalized by the resuscitation of antiblack practices, they fail to locate refuge in one another. Racial stereotypes work internally to distort and degrade their perception of the “other.” African Americans doubt the authenticity of the foreign-born families that move into their neighborhoods or purchase local businesses, while black immigrants conceive of native-born parents as unmotivated and their children as self-destructive.A study of this intraracial, cross-ethnic dynamic, this paper attends to black mothers—those traditionally cast as the bearers of black familial pathology. Using original ethnographic research with native-born and foreign-born black mothers in the city of Hartford, Connecticut, the text posits that black mothers migrate across ethnic borders to yield a motherline—a collective of mothers that not only mutually rears their children but also sees them through the structural and ideological forces that reduce their lives to precarity. Their love for their children stirs a need and a want to align with those whose grievances mirror their own. Amid critical and reflective dialogue about the boundaries that separate them, these mothers jointly forge kinship structures that brace their children for external racial assaults. This close examination of black maternal boundary crossings captures the possibilities of black love on borderlands widely considered marred.

The health of foreign-born homeless families living in the family shelter system

PurposeForeign-born families face challenges following migration to Canada that may impact their well-being and lead them to homelessness. Yet, there is limited research on the experience of homelessness in this population. The purpose of this paper is to examine the health of foreign-born families staying in the emergency shelter system in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and compare their experiences to Canadian-born homeless families who are also living in shelters.Design/methodology/approachInterviews were conducted with 75 adult heads of families who were residing in three family shelters. This study focused on mental and physical health functioning, chronic medical conditions, access to care and diagnoses of mental disorders.FindingsForeign-born heads of families reported better mental health than did Canadian-born heads of families with a significantly lower proportion of foreign-born participants reporting having been diagnosed with a mental disorder. Foreign-born heads of families also reported fewer chronic medical conditions than did Canadian-born heads of families.Research limitations/implicationsThis study relied on self-reported health and access to healthcare services. Data were drawn from a small, non-random sample.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first studies to examine the health and well-being of homeless foreign-born heads of families. Moreover, this paper also focuses on disparities in health, diagnoses of mental disorders, and access to healthcare services between foreign-born and Canadian-born families – a comparison that has not been captured in the existing literature.

A national study of intimate partner violence risk among female caregivers involved in the child welfare system: The role of nativity, acculturation, and legal status

Although intimate partner violence (IPV) is a well-known risk for child maltreatment, little is known if the prevalence of and risk factors for IPV differ among US-born and foreign-born families involved with Child Protective Services. Data came from a new cohort of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being II (NSCAW II), a national probability study of children reported for child abuse and neglect. The study sample was restricted to female caregivers whose children remained in the home following an investigation (N=2210). Caregiver self-report information was used to measure physical form of IPV during the past 12months. The study results revealed no significant differences in IPV victimization rates between foreign-born and US-born caregivers both bivariately and while controlling for key socio-demographic and psychosocial functioning characteristics as well as family needs. Common risk factors for both population groups included caregiver's young age, depression, high family stress and low social support. Additionally, foreign-born caregivers were more likely to experience IPV when there was high neighborhood stress and intimate partner was absent while Hispanic ethnicity, higher education, problematic substance use, and difficulty with paying for basic necessities predicted IPV among US-born caregivers. Neither legal status nor acculturation indicators were significantly associated with IPV victimization for foreign-born. Findings indicate that IPV remains a significant problem for child welfare involved caregivers and warrant effective screening, identification and prevention.

Prevalence of Allergic Disease in Foreign-Born American Children

The goal of this study was to determine whether the prevalence of allergic diseases is lower in foreign-born Americans and if prevalence increases with prolonged residence in the United States.Data were collected for 91 642 children ages 0 to 17 years in the 2007–2008 National Survey of Children’s Health. A total of 79 667 participants were analyzed.Random telephone numbers were selected for administration of the questionnaire, which was conducted in English, Spanish, and 4 Asian languages (Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Vietnamese).Children born outside the United States compared with those born within the United States had significantly lower prevalence of allergic disorders (20.3% vs 34.5%; logistic regression odds ratio [OR]: 0.48 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.38–0.61]; P < .001). Among children born outside the United States, children with foreign-born parents had significantly lower odds of atopic disease than those with US-born parents (18.2% vs 33.4%; logistic regression OR: 0.45 [95% CI: 0.25–0.78]; P = .005). Furthermore, there was an additive effect in which children of 2 foreign-born parents had a lower prevalence of allergic disease than those with 1 foreign-born parent. Among foreign-born children, children who lived in the United States for >10 years, compared with those who resided in the United States for only 0 to 2 years, had significantly higher odds of developing allergic diseases (adjusted OR: 3.04 [95% CI: 1.08–8.60]), specifically eczema and hay fever but not asthma or food allergy. Age at the time of immigration was not associated with lower odds of any allergic disorders.The findings from this large, prospective, US population–based study suggest that either infections or certain microbial exposures in early childhood may confer protection against atopic disorders. However, because the odds of developing allergic disease dramatically increase after a decade of living in the United States, protective effects may not be lifelong.These findings further support the role of environmental factors in the development of allergic disease. Limitations of this study, however, include self-report of allergic disease without clinical verification. The majority of the participants currently reside in a metropolitan area, and it is unknown what proportion of foreign-born families moved from a developing country (compared with an industrialized country) to the United States. Country of origin was not ascertained, although race/ethnicity data were collected as a proxy. Other potential confounding factors not evaluated include diet, allergenic exposures, use of antibiotics, use of antibacterial cleaning products, and history of helminthic infections.

Who Arrived First? The Timing of Arrival among Young Immigrant Wives and Husbands

The strongest predictor of immigrants’ adaptation to the American context is the length of time that they have lived in the United States. Scholars often assume, however, that immediate members of foreign-born families, especially husbands and wives and their foreign-born children, all arrive in the US at the same time and thus have lived there for the same length of time. Using the 2000 US census data, we investigate this assumption and analyse the sequence of migration among young married immigrant husbands and wives. Results show that over a half of married foreign-born men and women had arrived in the US in different years and that the sequence is gendered, with men more often arriving before the women. These patterns differ by country of origin. In general, the earlier arrival is older, and more likely to be employed than the later arrival, whether the earlier arrival is the husband or the wife.

Immigrant and Native Children in Germany

Resident foreign citizens in Germany, a country that cannot deny its character as a country of immigration, number around 6.7 million out of Germany’s total population of 82.4 million inhabitants. Relative to the native population, the age structure among people with migration background is shifted considerably younger. The share of children living with parents who have a migration background is quite large: More than 1 million children under 17 years of age are foreign citizens. This paper draws a portrait of immigrant children in comparison to native children. Data being analysed for this purpose make clear that children with migration background are disadvantaged in most sectors of life: Large shares of these children grow up in households with difficult financial straits and under less than optimal housing conditions. Young children with migration background face disadvantages in preschool and many are held back due to limited German language proficiency. Children and youth in foreign-born families tend to start school later and repeat classes more often. Children with migration background are not adequately supplied with health care, mainly because they and their parents less often participate in early diagnosis and preventive care. Youth with migration background are more involved in violent crimes.

Foreign‐born and Swedish‐born families' perceptions of psychosis care

The aim of the study was to describe how foreign-born and Swedish born families living in Sweden perceive psychosis care. Eleven foreign-born and 15 Swedish-born family members were interviewed and the data were analyzed using a phenomenographic approach. The findings showed three main descriptive categories: taking responsibility, access to care, and attitudes to psychosis. The degree of responsibility in the family decreased if there was easy access to care and support from health-care staff. Knowledge of psychosis was considered to be important in order to counteract prejudiced attitudes in the family and the community. Foreign-born families did not want to be treated differently from Swedes and stressed the importance of finding ways to communicate despite communication barriers. Foreign-born families also were affected by their experiences of psychiatric care and different beliefs about psychosis in their home country. The results indicate how important it is that health-care staff members treat families on equal terms. It is necessary to take the time to identify how to communicate in a good manner and to identify families' previous experiences of and beliefs about psychosis care in order to help families face prejudice in society and to see beyond the psychosis.

Short-term impact of a multi-faceted intervention for wheezy infants at risk for asthma

Rationale Urban, low-income children are at increased risk for asthma, likely due to both psychosocial and physical environmental exposures. Methods The Childhood Asthma Prevention Study recruited 177 low-income families of children age 9-24 months with ≥3 wheezing episodes. Half of families were randomly assigned to a year-long nurse home visitor environmental support (ES) intervention focused on reducing allergens and environmental tobacco smoke and improving illness-related caregiving. Assessments at baseline and 12 months addressed caregiver psychological resources, illness management, quality of life, and infant illness symptoms. Infant urine and household dust samples were collected, and medical records were abstracted. Results At year's end, number of homes with cockroach allergen was significantly reduced (p<0.033), and dog allergen tended to be lower (p<0.069) in ES homes. Infants' urinary cotinine was significantly reduced among ES families whose caregivers had fewer psychological resources (p<0.006). Asthma Knowledge and Collaboration with Medical Provider was greater in the ES group (p's<0.04). Reports of children's symptoms did not differ across groups, but caregiver quality of life was greater for ES foreign-born families (p<0.026) and families whose children had low baseline medication levels (p<0.044). Children in the ES group had significantly higher numbers of corticosteroid bursts during the intervention year (p<0.012). Conclusion The nurse home visitor intervention successfully impacted some of the targeted variables assessed, but failed to impact caregivers' symptom reports. Higher numbers of corticosteroid bursts in the ES group may reflect better management for these infant wheezers, possibly leading to less inflammation and fewer symptoms at age 4 and 7 follow-up.

Migrant and Immigrant Families in Canada: State Coercion and Legal Control in the Formation of Ethnic Families

The central question addressed in this paper is how are immigrant families formed in Canada? This paper suggests that the ‘immigrant family’ is not a fixed, unchanging and primordial attribute of ethnic culture. The forms that foreign-born families have taken in Canada reflect a complex intersection of subjective intentions of migrant groups and structural constraints stemming from the labour market, immigration policy and racism. The state, through its role in regulating the manner in which the boundaries of the nation are to be breached, plays a fundamental role not only in selecting certain groups of immigrants but also in constituting certain forms of familial relationships.