International Journal of Public Health
Volume 63, Issue 9, 2018, Pages 1037-1045

Perceived well-being in adolescent immigrants: it matters where they come from (Article)

Borraccino A.* , Charrier L. , Berchialla P. , Lazzeri G. , Vieno A. , Dalmasso P. , Lemma P.
  • a Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Torino, Piazza Polonia, 94, Turin, 10126, Italy
  • b Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Torino, Piazza Polonia, 94, Turin, 10126, Italy
  • c Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
  • d Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
  • e Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
  • f Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Torino, Piazza Polonia, 94, Turin, 10126, Italy
  • g Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Torino, Piazza Polonia, 94, Turin, 10126, Italy

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this work was to explore whether adolescent immigrants have worse or better perceived well-being, and whether this perception varies by ethnic background or between first- and second-generation immigrants, when compared with adolescents from the host population. Methods: A representative sample of 47,799 students (13.4% immigrants) aged 11, 13, and 15 years were recruited throughout all Italian regions within the framework of the Italian 2013/2014 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study. Results: Adolescent immigrants from Eastern European and non-Western/non-European countries had a higher occurrence of health complaints and the highest risk of reporting low life satisfaction, which increased among the second generation. The risk of reporting bullying behaviours and physical fights was higher in first-generation immigrants and decreased in the second generation, independent of ethnic background. Conclusions: Italian welfare immigration policies do not seem to offer the same opportunities to all adolescent immigrant groups, which leads to differing effects on their well-being. To tackle these inequalities, Italy should increase its investment in education through early prevention initiatives, e.g. providing support in intercultural education and proper training to school teachers and staff. © 2018, Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+).

Author Keywords

Perceived well-being Bullying behaviours Physical fights HBSC First and second adolescent immigrants’ generation

Index Keywords

education perception immigrant human epidemiology wellbeing immigration Health Behavior statistics and numerical data controlled study comparative study ethnology Cross-Sectional Studies Surveys and Questionnaires bullying student cross-sectional study migrant psychology Humans Adolescent investment male Emigrants and Immigrants school child Acculturation female Socioeconomic Factors Aggression Diagnostic Self Evaluation welfare socioeconomics Cross-Cultural Comparison Child Welfare questionnaire cultural factor life satisfaction Psychology, Adolescent Article self evaluation major clinical study human experiment staff child psychology school teacher Italy Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85055468964&doi=10.1007%2fs00038-018-1165-8&partnerID=40&md5=353438cb1fcbe476d3581fd5118a9607
DOI: 10.1007/s00038-018-1165-8
ISSN: 16618556
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English