Journal of School Health
Volume 81, Issue 6, 2011, Pages 313-319

Immigrant parents' perceptions of school environment and children's mental health and behavior (Article)

Hamilton H.A.* , Marshall L. , Rummens J.A. , Fenta H. , Simich L.
  • a University of Toronto, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 455 Spadina Ave., Street 300, Toronto, ON M5S 2G8, Canada
  • b Departmant of Sociology and Criminology, University of the West of England Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY, United Kingdom
  • c University of Toronto, Community Health Systems Resource Group, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
  • d University of Toronto, Research Development Consultant, Ontario HIV Treatment Network, 1300 Yonge Street, Suite 600, Toronto, ON M4T 1X3, Canada
  • e University of Toronto, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 455 Spadina Ave., Street 300, Toronto, ON M5S 2G8, Canada

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Research has increasingly identified the perception of school environment as an influential factor in children's lives. There has been sparse research attention, however, on the potential importance of parents' perceptions of school environment on child adjustment. This study examined the relationship between parents' perceptions of school environment and children's emotional and behavioral problems. METHODS: Data were derived from the New Canadian Children and Youth Study, a study of the children (aged 4-6 and 11-13) of immigrant parents. Analyses focused on a subsample of Mainland Chinese, Hong Kong Chinese, and Filipino immigrants in a large metropolitan area. RESULTS: Parental perception of school environment was negatively associated with physical aggression in children even after controlling for child age and gender, parental characteristics, family functioning, and aspects of acculturation. In contrast, parental perception was not significantly related to symptoms of emotional distress in children. There were some ethnic differences in perception of school environment. CONCLUSIONS: Parental perception of school environment is important to the well-being of the children of immigrant parents, and reinforces the relevance of initiatives to improve the dynamics between parents and schools. © 2011, American School Health Association.

Author Keywords

immigrants parents Mental health School environment Behavior problems

Index Keywords

Parents perception depression Asian regression analysis psychological aspect mental health human Schools Asian continental ancestry group child behavior Humans Aggression Adolescent parent male Canada Emigrants and Immigrants preschool child female Child, Preschool questionnaire school Article Questionnaires Social Environment migration Social Perception Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79956213182&doi=10.1111%2fj.1746-1561.2011.00596.x&partnerID=40&md5=7b0e0f177aca5d0baeb70cb2883b1919
DOI: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2011.00596.x
ISSN: 00224391
Cited by: 12
Original Language: English