Second-generation Immigrant Children Research Articles

Comment soutenir la transmission consciente au sein des familles avec des adolescents enfants de migrants ?

Many studies have highlighted the psychological impact and resulting vulnerability inherent in being second-generation immigrant (SGI) children. Some studies have also demonstrated that the symptoms of SGI adolescents can be the manifestations of traumas that have been unconsciously transmitted from one generation to another. The purpose of the research presented in this article is to investigate the different therapeutic processes and tools used by therapists during transcultural therapy to support conscious intergenerational and transgenerational transmission in their care of SGI adolescents and their participating family members. The monitoring of three patients, SGI adolescents, of different ages and origins, provided data that were analyzed using a clinical and transcultural qualitative method. The analysis of 10 sessions of transcultural psychotherapy with each SGI adolescent patient reveals, first of all, that this therapeutic device is illustrative in the care of SGI children suffering from the symptoms of inter- and transcultural transmissions of trauma. It also highlights various therapeutic levers and approaches to transcultural counseling that can enable families to consciously unveil their family and cultural histories. This research project also proposes a methodology where the inter- and transgenerational transmissions can be adapted to favor the healthy development of SGI adolescents’ identity and that can also be applied in other group or individual therapeutic devices.

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.

Avrupa Birliği Eğitim Eylem Planı Politikalarının İncelenmesi

In relation to general education in the European Union, the basis of the Education Action Plan was laid in the 1973 Janne Report and entered into force at the Council of Ministers in 1976. The education policies of the European Union are not binding on governments individually, and there is no clear statement in the Treaty of Rome and the European Economic Community providing for cooperation in education. However, only In-Service training (In-Service Training) is included in the Treaty of Rome. Jean Monnet, which is considered the founding agreement of the European Community, emphasized the view that if the Union is re-established, the point of departure will be created by education instead of economics. This period is considered as a touchstone for the cooperation of the European Union in general education. Programs such as Petra and Erasmus allow many young people to experience education within Europe. European Union Educational Programs have been started for a period extending up to 20 years after the establishment of the European Economic Community by the treaty of Rome in 1957. In the mid-1970s, the European Community launched its first training program with vocational education. 128 Of the treaty of Rome. by implementing the statement in 1963, it draws an important framework for vocational education policy. Thus, the council of ministers of education convened in 1995 and took a series of Decrees envisaging providing secondary education opportunities for girls, providing educational opportunities for second-generation immigrant children, adopting the principle of continuous and “Lifelong Education” that will last from school to business life, and interuniversity cooperation within the scope of student exchange. Key Words: European Union, Education Action Plan, Education Policies

Improving Immigrant Adolescent Mental Health: The Role of Cultural Identity

As immigration to the United States continues to rise, so does the population of second-generation immigrant children. They often face acculturation stressors, the psychological response of distinct ethnic groups coming into contact with the mainstream culture and the conflicts that may arise, in the face of a new culture, along with culture gaps with their parents as they struggle to find their place in American society. As these stressors proliferate even into their teenage years, youth mental health is at risk. Thus, this review aims to synthesize the best available evidence surrounding immigrant acculturation gaps, parental and peer influence, and cultural identity, along with the impact on mental health. Specifically, this paper seeks to answer the question: to what extent does preserving cultural identity benefit the mental health of second-generation immigrant adolescents in the United States? Of the literature reviewed, I find strong evidence that a stronger cultural identity has positive effects on immigrant youth mental health and can help mitigate acculturative pressures as adolescents immigrate to the U.S. I also examine differing perspectives on the negative role cultural identity plays in navigating adolescence, but overall, the research suggests a benefit of cultural identity on mental health.

Identity and Voluntary Language Maintenance Efforts: A Case of Bilingual Korean-American University Students in Hawai‘i

Summary Reporting on the experiences of four bilingual Korean-American university students enrolled in Korean language classes in Hawai‘i, this case study focuses on their identity development and voluntary efforts to achieve heritage language (HL) competence. According to the participants’ narratives, they all experienced regression in their HL abilities and language shift from Korean to English after entering school. However, they began to regain HL skills as adolescents, which was possible due both to their voluntary engagement with HL literacy and speaking practices and to the abundance of opportunities to learn and speak the HL in the home and community. Transnational connections with their heritage nation, including Korean media and visits to Korea, were key in motivating and facilitating their voluntary HL learning. Their narratives further show that the HL played an important role in the participants’ ability to construct a strong sense of ethnic identity, and that they tended to view themselves as part of two distinct cultures. They were connected to the norms and values of both the receiving country’s culture and the culture of their heritage nation. As second-generation immigrant children, they learned to utilize their bilingual and bicultural knowledge to navigate between the two cultures in a flexible manner, to construct situated identities, and to avoid conflicts and achieve collective identity, solidarity, and group membership. The study’s insights into the role of voluntary effort in HL learning and identity development have implications for HL education.

¡Ay, Mija!: My Bilingual Summer in Mexico by Christine Suggs

Reviewed by: ¡Ay, Mija!: My Bilingual Summer in Mexico by Christine Suggs Amanda Toledo Suggs, Christine ¡Ay, Mija!: My Bilingual Summer in Mexico; written and illus. by Christine Suggs. Little, 2023 [336p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780316591966 $24.99 Paper ed. ISBN 9780316591928 $17.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780316591942 $9.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 7-10 The summer after tenth grade, Christine—along with a tiny spectral version of her, presumably an inner voice—leaves her family in Texas for a multi-week vacation staying at her grandparents’ in Mexico, basking in the sun, visiting historical sites, eating delectable cuisine, and finding her place within her family. With little in driving plot, this graphic novel memoir is more a deep reflection on family and the difficulties of growing up, making art, fearing her own sexuality, and judging her body. It is particularly adept at capturing the feeling of being in between two cultures that will likely be familiar for first and second generation children of immigrants; Christine doesn’t quite feel Mexican enough to claim it as part of her identity, but she also feels incomplete without it. Not speaking the language of her grandparents but still feeling and yearning for connection is a primary example of this struggle: “It’s strange being so loved by someone you can’t even have a full conversation with . . . but nice.” Suggs also effectively conveys the cognitive dissonance of being in a family where most beloved family members live in fat bodies, yet still hearing about “la pansa” and fat phobic comments that are deeply ingrained in the culture. With the color palette limited to blues and oranges, Suggs’ digital illustrations vividly depict emotions, making the characters distinct and the desert [End Page 235] landscapes of Mexico rich and alive, clearly conveying love for both. An epilogue with pictures provides more insight into Suggs’ life and family. For young artists eager for more graphic novel memoirs by artists, pair with Liz Montague’s Maybe An Artist (BCCB 10/22). Copyright © 2023 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Assessing Quality of Life in First- and Second-Generation Immigrant Children and Adolescents; Highlights from the DIATROFI Food Aid and Healthy Nutrition Promotion Program.

To compare first- and second-immigrant pediatric populations with a non-immigrant pediatric population in terms of quality-of-life metrics, a cross-sectional analysis using data from the DIATROFI Program was implemented. In total, n = 2277 students (mean age: 9(4) years) from public schools in Greece participating in the 2020-2021 school year were analyzed. The students' immigration status (first-generation/second-generation) was defined as per the standard definition. The students' health related-quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed using a parental-perceived quality of life questionnaire. The sample included 4.8% first-generation and 21.2% second-generation immigrant students. Compared with non-immigrants, the first-generation immigrant students were more likely to have poor HRQoL (odds ratio (OR) = 2.82; 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 11.75, 4.53), physical (OR = 1.91; 95%CI = 1.18, 3.10), social (OR = 1.94; 95%CI = 1.16, 3.22) and school function (OR = 2.52; 95%CI = 1.54, 4.13). Similar results were observed for second-generation immigrant students regarding HRQoL (OR = 1.68; 95%CI = 1.28, 2.21), physical (OR = 1.60; 95%CI = 1.23, 2.10) and school function (OR = 2.09; 95%CI = 1.58, 2.77). Children with one parent having a country of origin different that the country of residence had elevated odds of having poor emotional health (OR = 1.19; 95%CI = 0.87, 1.64). The family's affluency level was interrelated with the connection of poor HRQoL and immigration status. The immigrant students have a poorer quality of life depending on their immigration generation and irrespective of their socioeconomic background.

Immigrant child health in Canada: a scoping review

IntroductionUnderstanding the health of immigrant children from birth to 18 years of age is important given the significance of the early childhood years and complexity of factors that may influence...

Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders Among Immigrant, Refugee, and Nonimmigrant Children and Youth in British Columbia, Canada

There remains limited understanding of population-level patterns of mental disorder prevalence for first- and second-generation immigrant and refugee children and youth and how such patterns may vary across mental disorders. To examine the diagnostic prevalence of conduct, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and mood/anxiety disorders in immigrant, refugee, and nonimmigrant children and youth in British Columbia, Canada. This retrospective, population-level cohort study examined linked health administrative records of children and youth in British Columbia (birth to age 19 years) spanning 2 decades (1996-2016). Physician billings, hospitalizations, and drug dispensations were linked to immigration records to estimate time-in-British Columbia-adjusted prevalence of mental disorder diagnosis among children and youth from immigrant or refugee backgrounds compared with those from nonimmigrant backgrounds. Analyses were conducted from August 2020 to November 2021. The diagnostic prevalence of conduct, ADHD, and mood/anxiety disorders were the main outcomes. Results were stratified by migration category (immigrant, refugee, nonimmigrant), generation status (first- and second-generation), age, and sex. A total of 470 464 children and youth in British Columbia were included in the study (227 217 [48.3%] female). Nonimmigrant children and youth represented 65.5% of the total study population (307 902 individuals). Among those who migrated, 142 011 (87.8%) were first- or second-generation immigrants, and 19 686 (12.2%) were first- or second-generation refugees. Diagnostic prevalence of mental disorders varied by migration category, generation status, age, and sex. Children and youth from immigrant and refugee backgrounds (both first- and second-generation), compared with nonimmigrant youth, generally had a lower prevalence of conduct disorder (eg, age 6-12 years: first-generation immigrant, 2.72% [95% CI, 2.56%-2.90%] vs nonimmigrant, 7.03% [95% CI, 6.93%-7.13%]), ADHD (eg, age 6-12 years: first-generation immigrant, 4.30% [95% CI, 4.10%-4.51%] vs nonimmigrant, 9.20% [95% CI, 9.08%-9.31%]), and mood/anxiety disorders (eg, age 13-19 years: first-generation immigrant, 11.07% [95% CI, 10.80%-11.36%] vs nonimmigrant, 24.54% [95% CI, 24.34%-24.76%]). Among immigrant children and youth, second-generation children and youth generally showed higher prevalence of conduct, ADHD, and mood/anxiety disorders than first-generation children and youth (eg, ADHD among second-generation immigrants aged 6-12 years, 5.94% [95% CI, 5.75%-6.14%]; among first-generation immigrants aged 6-12 years, 4.30% [95% CI, 4.10%-4.51%]). Second-generation refugee children had the highest diagnostic prevalence estimates for mood/anxiety in the 3-to-5-year age range relative to first- and second-generation immigrant and nonimmigrant children (eg, second-generation refugee, 2.58% [95% CI, 2.27%-2.94%] vs second-generation immigrant, 1.78% [95% CI, 1.67%-1.89%]). Mental disorder diagnoses also varied by age and sex within immigrant, refugee, and nonimmigrant groups. These findings show differences in diagnostic mental disorder prevalence among first- and second-generation immigrant and refugee children and youth relative to nonimmigrant children and youth. Further investigation is required into how cultural differences and barriers in accessing health services may be contributing to these differences.

Anorexia nervosa among first- and second-generation immigrant children and adolescents in Italy: treatment and clinical outcomes.

Cultural and environmental factors have frequently been implicated in the pathogenesis of Eating Disorders (ED). Although ED have been considered as "Western culture-bound syndromes", increasing rates of ED among non-Western groups are being documented. The present study aims to investigate treatment and clinical outcomes among first-generation immigrant children and adolescents (FGI) (patients born abroad) and second-generation immigrant youth (SGI, patients born in Italy) with Anorexia Nervosa (AN). The study retrospectively compares treatment, hospitalizations, traumatic past events, clinical features, and treatment outcome (improvement in percentual body-mass index - %BMI) between FGI and SGI young patients with AN (10-18 years). Correlations were adjusted for age and severity (%BMI) at presentation. Treatments and outcomes were investigated at the baseline (T0), 2 weeks (T1), one month (T2), 3 months (T3), 6 months (T4), and 12 months (T5). Thirty-six patients (50% FGI) were enrolled. At T1 (F(1.26)=6.335, p=0.018), and at T2 (F(1.30)=18.752, p<0.001) FGI presented a significantly higher %BMI improvement than SGI. FGI required significantly less (OR=0.379, p=0.017), and shorter (F(1.32)=5.827, p=0.022) hospitalizations, when compared with SGI. When compared to SGI, FGI with AN required fewer and shorter hospitalizations and had a better early-treatment weight outcome. Larger nationwide studies should investigate the need for and access to treatment of immigrant populations with AN.

Age Effects in Primary Education: A Double Disadvantage for Second-Generation Immigrants

The integration of second-generation immigrant children is a major challenge for the receiving countries, especially where immigration is a recent phenomenon. Apart from family, integration begins at school. We study whether the immigrant background interacts with age effects (namely, absolute age effect and relative age effect), generating additional barriers (double disadvantage) for second-generation children in the Italian primary school. We can identify these effects because we exploit the heterogeneity in children's birthdates and because the test is given at two different points in time. We find evidence of a double disadvantage that, relative to the average native, reduces scores in Italian by 17% and in Math by 20%. In a policy perspective, we show that controlling for age effects in class composition criteria promotes integration because it delivers extra benefits to second-generation immigrant children. Besides, we point out the possibility of turning the large impact of the relative age on second-generation children to their advantage, in order to reduce the sizable penalization associated with the immigrant background.

The mental health of immigrant and refugee children in Canada: A scoping review

Introduction: First- and second-generation immigrant children under 15 years of age make up 37.5% of the total population of children in Canada. Immigrant children aged 10-19, irrespective of their immigration status, face more ethnic victimization at school and in their neighborhoods. By 2036, the number of immigrant children in Canada is predicted to increase by 49%.&#x0D; Method: A well-established Arksey and O’Malley’s five-stage methodological framework was applied to conduct this scoping review. This project reviewed the existing research literature on factors affecting immigrant and refugee children's mental health in Canada.&#x0D; Results: The mental health of immigrant and refugee children can be viewed as a combined product of personal, social, cultural, economic, and pre- and post-migratory factors. Immigrant and refugee children’s experiences of migration can be stressful and destabilizing. Service providers are not well trained and often cannot grasp the circumstances of immigrant and refugee children and families, which consequently disengages them from required treatment services and follow-up care.&#x0D; Conclusion: Reflection of diversity and inclusivity in mental health policies can influence actions in a primary care setting and reduce accessibility gaps and barriers that affect immigrant and refugee children in Canada.&#x0D; Keywords: child; Canada; immigrant; mental health; refugee

Conduct Disorder in Immigrant Children and Adolescents: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Sweden.

Introduction. Conduct disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis characterized by repetitive and persistent norm-breaking behavior. This study aimed to compare the risk of conduct disorder between first- and second-generation immigrant children and adolescents and their native controls. Methods. In this nationwide, open-cohort study from Sweden, participants were born 1987–2010, aged 4–16 years at baseline, and were living in the country for at least one year during the follow-up period between 2001 and 2015. The sample included 1,902,526 and 805,450 children-adolescents with native and immigrant backgrounds, respectively. Data on the conduct disorder diagnoses were retrieved through the National Patient Register. We estimated the incidence of conduct disorder and calculated adjusted Hazard Ratios. Results. Overall, the adjusted risk of conduct disorder was lower among first-generation immigrants and most second-generation immigrant groups compared with natives (both males and females). However, second-generation immigrants with a Swedish-born mother and a foreign-born father had a higher risk of conduct disorder than natives. Similar results were found for sub-diagnoses of conduct disorder. Conclusions. The higher risk of conduct disorder among second-generation immigrants with a Swedish-born mother and the lower risk among most of the other immigrant groups warrants special attention and an investigation of potential underlying mechanisms.

Health of Immigrant Children: The Role of Immigrant Generation, Exogamous Family Setting, and Family Material and Social Resources.

Although the children of first-generation immigrants tend to have better health than the native population, the health advantage of the children of immigrant families deteriorates over generations. It is, however, poorly understood where on the generational health assimilation spectrum children with one immigrant and one native parent (i.e., exogamous families) lie, to what extent family resources explain health assimilation, and whether the process of assimilation varies across health conditions. We seek to extend our understanding of the process of health assimilation by analyzing the physical and mental health of immigrant generations, assessing the role of exogamous family arrangements, and testing the contributions of family material and social resources to children's outcomes. We use register-based longitudinal data on all children residing in Finland, born in 1986-2000, and alive in 2000; these data are free of reporting bias and loss to follow-up. We estimate the risk of receiving inpatient and outpatient care for somatic conditions, psychopathological disorders, and injuries by immigrant generation status. Our results show evidence of a negative health assimilation process, with both first- and second-generation immigrant children having a higher prevalence of physical problems and particularly mental health problems than native children that is only partially explained by family resources. We find that the children of exogamous families are at especially high risk of developing psychopathological disorders. These results provide strong support for the hypothesis that children of exogamous families constitute a specific health risk group and that the impact on children's health of family social and material resources seems to be secondary to other unobserved factors.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in first- and second-generation immigrant children and adolescents: A nationwide cohort study in Sweden

BackgroundStudies on the incidence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among immigrant children and adolescents is limited and results are mixed. The aim of this study was to compare the ADHD risk between first- and second-generation immigrants aged 4–16 years and their native peers in Sweden. MethodsThis was an open nationwide retrospective cohort study. We included 1,902,526 native and 805,450 children and adolescents with an immigrant background, born 1987–2010, and aged 4–16 years at baseline. We identified participants using national population data and participants were observed until they received an ADHD diagnosis in the National Patient Register, turned 18 years, migrated, died, or until the end of the study, whichever came first. ADHD risks were adjusted for birth year and age and maternal income at baseline. ResultsFor both males and females, the ADHD risk was lower among most immigrant groups. However, the combination of a Swedish-born mother and foreign-born father was associated with an increased risk of ADHD. The ADHD risk varied substantially between immigrants from different regions of the world. For example, immigrants from other Scandinavian countries, North America, and Latin America and the Caribbean had higher rates of ADHD compared with natives. ConclusionsFuture research should examine the underlying factors behind the differences in ADHD risks between certain immigrant subgroups and natives, such as family structure, cultural and language barriers and potential differences in health care utilization among immigrant families.

Immigrant parent’s religiosity and the second-generation children’s adaptation

ABSTRACT Drawing on insights from social capital theory, this study empirically examined the association between immigrant parent’s religiosity and the second-generation immigrant children’s adaptation in the United States, which was measured by the second-generation children’s preference of American way of doing things. Applying ordinal regression analysis to data from the Children of Immigrant Longitudinal Study (CILS), this study finds (1) parental religiosity is positively related to their second-generation children’s adaptation; (2) immigrant family’s socialization with people from other different ethnic groups is positively associated with the second-generation children’s adaptation and (3) parental educational level is positively associated with the second-generation immigrant children’s adaptation. These findings highlight the ‘bridging’ role of parental religiosity and the importance of intercultural contacts for the second-generation immigrant children’s positive adaptation.

Urolithiasis in second-generation immigrant children younger than 18years of age in Sweden.

To compare incidence of urolithiasis in second-generation immigrant children aged 0-17years to children of Swedish-born parents. A nationwide study of individuals residing in Sweden. Urolithiasis was defined as having at least one registered diagnosis of urolithiasis in the Swedish National Patient Register between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2015. Cox regression analysis was used to estimate the relative risk (hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI)) of incident urolithiasis compared to individuals with Swedish-born parents. The models were stratified by sex and adjusted for age, co-morbidities and sociodemographic status of parents. Totally, 1653 incident cases of urolithiasis were registered, 658 boys and 995 girls, with a mean annual incidence per 100000 person-years for children with Swedish-born parents of 4.0 (95% CI 3.7-4.3) in boys and 6.7 (95% CI 6.2-7.2) in girls, and for children with foreign-born parents of 5.3 (95% CI 5.1-5.4) in boys and 7.2 (95% CI 6.9-7.4) in girls. The fully adjusted HRs of urolithiasis in second-generation immigrants were non-significant, in boys (1.20, 95% CI 0.99-1.46) and girls (0.95, 95% CI 0.80-1.12). The risk of urolithiasis in second-generation immigrants was not significantly different from that of children with Swedish-born parents.

Vietnamese Parents and Czech Nannies: Second-Generation Immigrant Children and their Educators

Many second-generation Vietnamese immigrant children in the Czech Republic are brought up by Czech nannies. While their parents are incorporated into the labour market in order to provide their children with suffi cient economic capital for their education, the role of caregivers is relinquished to nannies. Both parents and nannies become important actors in the children’s educational process, from the stage of acquiring fi rst words, through primary school, to the moment they are admitted into university. This paper analyses the roles of parents and nannies in this educational process. It draws upon 60 interviews conducted with fi rst-generation immigrant mothers, second-generation immigrants, and Czech nannies. The perspective of all three actors are presented here in order to reveal the interviewee’s understanding of the role of education in the parent-child and nanny-child relationships. How is education manifested in the defi nitions of parenting and caregiving? The paper illuminates the educational strategies taking place outside the educational institution as being an inherent part of everyday life. Simultaneously, the article reveals the meanings of education for the immigrant families as being linked both to past experience and future expectations.

Epilepsy in second-generation immigrants: a cohort study of all children up to 18 years of age in Sweden.

Our purpose was to study the association between country of birth and incident epilepsy in second-generation immigrants in Sweden. The study population included all children (n=4023149) aged up to 18years in Sweden. Epilepsy was defined as at least one registered diagnosis of epilepsy in the National Patient Register. The incidence of epilepsy, using individuals with Swedish-born parents as referents, was assessed by Cox regression, expressed in hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). All models were stratified by sex and adjusted for age, geographical residence in Sweden, educational level, marital status, neighbourhood socioeconomic status and comorbid conditions, also using data from the Total Population Register. A total of 26310 individuals had a registered epilepsy event, i.e. 6.5/1000 (6.6/1000 amongst boys and 6.3/1000 amongst girls). After adjustment, the risk of epilepsy was lower than in children of Swedish-born parents. Amongst girls the significant HR was 0.85 (95% CI 0.81-0.88), but in boys only when adjusting also for comorbidity (HR0.96, 95% CI 0.92-0.99). Amongst specific immigrant groups, a higher incidence of epilepsy was observed amongst boys with parents from Turkey and Africa, but not when adjusting for comorbidity, and a lower risk was observed in many other groups (boys with parents from Latvia, girls with parents from Finland, Iceland, Southern Europe, countries from the former Yugoslavia, and Asia). The risk of epilepsy was lower in second-generation immigrant children compared to children with Swedish-born parents, but with substantial differences between different immigrant groups.

Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Low-Income Latino Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Children

To estimate the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences in low-income Latino children and examine differences in the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences by immigrant generational status. This is a secondary data analysis of the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children's Health, a telephone survey of parents/caregivers of a nationally representative sample of US children. The study sample was limited to Latino children in households with an annual income ≤200% of the federal poverty level (FPL) whose parents responded to a 9-item inventory of adverse childhood experiences. Descriptive statistics estimated the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences and examined differences in prevalence by immigrant generational status. Of 22 297 children, 29% (n = 6483) were Latino (9% first generation, 57% second generation, 30% third or higher generation); 25% (n = 1692) of all Latino children were exposed to 2 or more adverse childhood experiences. Latino immigrant children had a lower prevalence (13%; n = 801) compared with nonimmigrant Latino children (40%; n = 772). The most common adverse childhood experiences were financial hardship and parent divorce/separation. The total number and mean number of adverse childhood experiences differed by child generational status, and the differences persisted after stratification by age and FPL. The prevalence of exposure to adverse childhood experiences was highest among third- or higher-generation nonimmigrant children and lowest among second-generation immigrant children. The prevalence of adverse childhood experiences in low-income Latino children is similar to the prevalence for all US children; however, the prevalence is significantly higher in nonimmigrant children. Targeted screening to address adverse childhood experiences, policy changes, and guidance regarding care practices to address adverse childhood experiences in Latino children are needed.