Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, the current study examines behavioural and emotional problems of immigrant children, in comparison with non-immigrant children. Multi-level analyses (children nested within cities) showed that immigrant children fared better in behaviours and emotions than non-immigrant children. Gender was the most important child-level variable responsible for behavioural and emotional problems of immigrant children. City characteristics had much stronger effects with population characteristics, socio-economic conditions, social climate, and social services conditions being responsible for behavioural and emotional problems of immigrant children. In contrast, child characteristics were more important than city characteristics for non-immigrant children. Social equity was a critical issue for non-immigrant children, whereas social environment was important for immigrant children.

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Canada immigrant population migrants experience Child