European Psychologist
Volume 21, Issue 2, 2016, Pages 150-162

Adjustment outcomes of immigrant children and youth in Europe: A meta-analysis (Review)

Dimitrova R. , Chasiotis A. , Van De Vijver F.
  • a Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Frescati Hagv. 14, Stockholm, SE-106 91, Sweden
  • b School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Babylon Center for the Study of the Multicultural Society, Tilburg University, Netherlands
  • c Department of Culture Studies, Tilburg University, Netherlands

Abstract

Compared to natives, immigrants have been reported to display either more (migration morbidity) or fewer (immigrant paradox) adjustment problems. We examined these two perspectives using a meta-analysis from 51 studies (N = 224,197), reporting internalizing, externalizing, and academic outcomes among immigrant children and youth in Europe. Overall, migration morbidity was better supported than the immigrant paradox. Migration morbidity was supported for (a) externalizing outcomes in Northern Europe and adolescent samples; (b) academic outcomes for low SES and fewer girls across samples; (c) internalizing outcomes in Western Europe and preadolescent samples. Cultural diversity and long-term residence of immigrants are favorable factors for the paradox in externalizing outcomes, whereas immigrant family reunion was predictive for the paradox in internalizing and academic outcomes. Implications for future research and policy are discussed. © 2016 Hogrefe Publishing.

Author Keywords

Immigrant paradox Europe Migration morbidity Immigrant children and youth Meta-analysis

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84971223692&doi=10.1027%2f1016-9040%2fa000246&partnerID=40&md5=a25d9aec0cc551fcddac025cf23ddaeb
DOI: 10.1027/1016-9040/a000246
ISSN: 10169040
Cited by: 37
Original Language: English