An assessment of the cognitive functions and mental health of 163 nine to eleven year old schoolchildren from immigrant families was carried out (through self-assessment and assessment by their teacher) in an exclusively North African catchment area. This group of children was compared with a control group of 147 indigenous children of the same age group drawn from two city centre schools. The results show a significant difference on a cognitive level between the two groups, with immigrant children at a disadvantage. They also show a significant difference in levels of separation anxiety, which are higher in children from immigrant families (self-assessment), despite the fact that the over-all anxiety level is considered by their teacher to be higher in children from the control group. This form of anxiety, once again in children from the control group, is negatively linked with the level of knowledge organisation, a connection which is not found in immigrant children.

Immigration K-ABC Anxiety

male controlled study human female teacher cognition major clinical study Learning self evaluation immigrant anxiety disorder Article mental health immigration school child family separation anxiety North Africa