Acculturation Issues in Adolescent Immigrants: How Are They Related to Health?

Following immigration to a new country, adolescents must deal with many challenges in addition to the normal intergenerational conflicts that characterize this age. The need to learn a new language and adapt to a different educational system combined with the struggle to make new friends can have visible consequences on the health status of immigrant youth, many of whom suffered severe deprivations prior to immigration. This chapter reviews physical and mental health-related problems, such as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and psychosomatic problems, that concern adolescent immigrants and their families.