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An "immigrant paradox" for adolescent externalizing behavior? Evidence from a national sample
Christopher P Salas-Wright1, Michael G Vaughn2, Seth J Schwartz3
1School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin, 1925 San Jacinto Blvd D3500, Austin, TX, 78712-0358, USA. salaswright@utexas.edu.
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
|September 3, 2015
Summary
Immigrant adolescents in the US exhibit fewer externalizing behaviors than US-born peers, particularly when arriving later or spending less time in the country. This finding supports the "immigrant paradox" in adolescent behavior.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Criminology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Rising immigrant populations in the US prompt concerns about adolescent externalizing behaviors.
- Externalizing behaviors include crime, violence, and substance misuse.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically compare externalizing behaviors between immigrant and US-born adolescents.
- To investigate migration-related factors influencing these behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) R-DAS (2002-2009).
- Analyzed data for adolescents aged 12-17 (N=25,057).
- Calculated prevalence estimates and confidence intervals using complex survey sampling design.
Main Results:
- Immigrant adolescents, especially 15-17 year olds, showed significantly lower rates of externalizing behaviors.
- Later age of arrival and shorter duration in the US correlated with reduced externalizing behaviors.
- Differences were most pronounced in non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic youth; immigrant adolescents reported stronger family cohesion and school engagement.
Conclusions:
- The study confirms the "immigrant paradox" regarding adolescent externalizing behaviors.
- Age, age of arrival, duration of stay, and race/ethnicity are crucial factors in understanding nativity and behavior.
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