Acculturation, resilience, and the mental health of migrant youth: a cross-country comparative study.

Journal: Public health

Volume: 162

Issue: 

Year of Publication: 2018

Affiliated Institutions:  Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong. Electronic address: qiaobing.wu@gmail.com. Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, UK. School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, Australian Catholic University, Australia. Neuroscience Research Australia, Australia; School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Australia. Department of Biological and Experimental Psychology, Queen Mary University of London, UK. Department of Health Sciences, University of York, UK. Primary Health Care Directorate, University of Cape Town, South Africa. Department of Educational Psychology, University of Pretoria, South Africa. Resilience Research Centre, Dalhousie University, Canada. Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Abstract summary 

Using data from an international collaborative research project on youth resilience in the context of migration, this study aims to investigate how different acculturation patterns (i.e. integration, assimilation, separation and marginalization) influence the mental health of migrant youth, and whether resilience might function as a mediator in the association between acculturation and mental health.A cross-sectional pilot study conducted in six countries employing a common survey questionnaire.The study sample was 194 youths aged 10-17 years (median = 13.6) from six countries (Australia, Canada, China, New Zealand, South Africa, and United Kingdom) and included cross-border and internal migrants. Mental health and well-being was measured by the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS). Resilience was measured by the Child and Youth Resilience Measure-28 (CYRM-28). Acculturation was assessed using the Acculturation, Habits, and Interests Multicultural Scale for Adolescents (AHIMSA). Multivariate regression and path analysis were performed to examine the hypothesized mediation model.Resilience scores correlated strongly with mental health and well-being. Acculturation exerted no significant direct effects on the mental health of migrant youths. Nevertheless, compared to youths who were integration-oriented, assimilation-oriented youths tended to exhibit lower levels of resilience, resulting in poorer mental health. Compared to youths from other countries, migrant youths from China also reported lower levels of resilience, which led to poorer mental health outcome.Acculturation plays a significant role in the mental health of migrant youth, with different acculturative orientations exhibiting different influences through the mediation effect of resilience. Fostering resilience and facilitating integration-oriented acculturation are recommended public health strategies for migrant youth.

Authors & Co-authors:  Wu Q Q Ge T T Emond A A Foster K K Gatt J M JM Hadfield K K Mason-Jones A J AJ Reid S S Theron L L Ungar M M Wouldes T A TA

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations : 
Authors :  11
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1016/j.puhe.2018.05.006
SSN : 1476-5616
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Acculturation
Other Terms
Acculturation;Mental health;Migration;Resilience;Youth
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
South Africa
Publication Country
Netherlands