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Growing up in the Transnational Family: Youth Adjusting to Late Immigration & Family Reunification

Growing up in the Transnational Family: Youth Adjusting to Late Immigration & Family Reunification. Naomi A. Schapiro, RN, PhD (c), CPNP Associate Clinical Professor PhD Candidate UCSF School of Nursing 5/13/10. Significance of Issue.

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Growing up in the Transnational Family: Youth Adjusting to Late Immigration & Family Reunification

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  1. Growing up in the Transnational Family: Youth Adjusting to Late Immigration & Family Reunification Naomi A. Schapiro, RN, PhD (c), CPNP Associate Clinical Professor PhD Candidate UCSF School of Nursing 5/13/10

  2. Significance of Issue • Over 191 million immigrants & refugees worldwide - 50% women • In US, 4% of children are immigrants, up to 10% in California • Over 1 million California children are foreign-born, most from Mexico

  3. Late Immigrants • Often called the 1.5 Generation: • Definitions vary • Arrive before age 18? • Arrive after age 6 and before 12? • Characteristics of this population not well defined • Immigration research does not always distinguish 1 vs. 1.5 or 1.5 vs. 2 • Confounded by migration back and forth

  4. Characteristics of 1.5 Generation • Up to 80% of children who migrate to the US after age 9 have been separated from at least one parent (Suárez-Orozco et al., 2002, 2008) • Children migrating in late childhood are rejoining parents who may be strangers

  5. Transnational families • Families with economic and affectional ties that cross national borders • Adults working in US support businesses, farms, & family education in home country • As likely to be women as men - increased service sector jobs http://www.resourcefulcommunities.org/sites/resourcefulcommunities.org/files/u31/Tortilleria_psd.jpg

  6. Transnational Families • Traditional migration: Father comes first or family migrates together • 21st century migration: Women (mothers) as likely to come first, may stay longer • Declining industrial, construction jobs in US • Increased need for service/care providers

  7. Transnational families • Why? • Changing economies in home countries • Disappearance of middle-class incomes & government-sponsored health care/education (e.g. Philippines) • Disappearance of family wage (everywhere) • Remittances from N to S an increasing part of economies of Mexico, Central America • Migrants from El Salvador to US can send home 6 times what they could earn if they stayed home

  8. Transnational families • Children spend early years in home country: extended family caretakers • separated from parents - may be unavoidable or deliberate • safer community, more adult supervision, cultural support • Immigrate in late childhood: able to make trip, less need for supervision, parent has improved circumstances in host country http://k53.pbase.com/g6/82/643382/2/71366040.RhC937Xf.jpg

  9. Separated parents: Send home gifts, monetary support Visits limited by economic & legal barriers Variable ability to call, send videos Variable support by home country caretakers Reunifying children May miss caretakers Resentful about long separation Unrealistic expectations of parents’ wealth Less supervision Encounters with racism, anti-immigrant hostility Family reunification

  10. Impact on Immigrant Youth • Latino youth report highest levels of drug, alcohol use & depression on NYRBSS • National self-report survey of youth in high school • Conducted every two years by CDC • Does not track immigration status or generation Eaton, D. K., Kann, L., Kinchen, S., Shanklin, S., Ross, J., Hawkins, J., et al. (2008). Youth risk behavior surveillance--United States, 2007. MMWR Surveill Summ, 57(4), 1-131.

  11. Impact • Risks of alcohol, drug use, sexual activity & suicide are LOWER for immigrants, than for 2d or 3d generation Latino youth • National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health (ADD-Health) • (Peña et al., 2008)

  12. Immigrant Generation & Risk • All risks EXCEPT depressive symptoms increase with each generation in US • However, LATE immigrant girls may have some increased risk of depression (Peña et al., 2008)

  13. Educational Impact • Immigrants have higher HS dropout rates than children of immigrants • 16/100 drop-outs of US-born children of immigrants • 24.5/100 for immigrant children • Latino youth are 41% of HS dropouts, 17% of population http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/pdf/1_PDF.pdf

  14. New immigrants and school • Harvard LISA Study (1997-2002) - Boston & SF • 5 immigrant groups • China, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Central America • Children Enter US > 9 yrs • Almost all youths’ academic performance declined over time (least Chinese)- different trajectories (Suárez-Orozco et al., 2008, 2002)

  15. New Immigrants and School • Harvard LISA Study (1997-2002) - Boston & SF • boys had higher rates of failure, girls more connected to mentors • Boys and girls tested equally well • Success predicted by: • parental education • behavioral engagement with school • overall school rates of achievement

  16. Educational Issues for Late Immigrants • It takes 7-8 years to be educationally competent in a new language • Children who migrate after 10 • May always speak with an accent • Actually may do BETTER in school if they have had more formal education in their home country than younger immigrants • Educational support from parents or other mentors is key

  17. Young men More anxious about future migration in home country - prepped for migration More “freedom” here and less connection to families Generally less successful at repetitive tasks (homework) needed for school success Disciplinary issues – oppositional stance and perceptions of school personnel Young women More depressed in some studies More able to connect with non-family mentors at school & succeed academically Complain about double standards for female/male behavior More family chores & more family connection Migration & Gender

  18. Pilot Study • Small qualitative (grounded theory) study as a pilot for nursing doctoral research (UCSF)

  19. Setting • Berkeley, California • “a small population with a big reputation” • pop. 102, 743 (2000) • Latino Population: 9.7% • Berkeley HS: Latinos = 450/3300 (13%) • 5% English learners

  20. Sample • Inclusion criteria: • HS and beyond • immigrant from Mexico or Central America • separated from parent at least 4 years during process of immigration • Recruited through HS counselors & health center, parent outreach worker, interfaith organizer

  21. Data collection • Time frame 9/07- 6/08 • Participant observation & field notes • parent & youth meetings • support group for post-EL HS students • In-depth interviews - 5 youth (Spanish & English)

  22. Challenges & Opportunities • Research • Role of researcher • Scope: not well-defined • Trust: skepticism • Length of relationship: limited Clinical Settings Role of RN/NP • Scope: well-defined • Trust: high • Length of relationship: open-ended Teens want to talk about family dynamics& individual risks, LESS about gangs and community issues Teens want to talk about EL, peers, gangs, ICE, LESS about family dynamics

  23. Preliminary Findings • Expected themes • Long-distance parenting • Expected parenting roles mediated by gender • Mother as caretakers even when supporting family financially • Father as breadwinner/disciplinarian even when taking on emotionally nurturing roles • Parental guilt • Youth angrier at distant mothers, regardless of reason for separation

  24. Preliminary Findings • Expected themes • Excitement AND ambivalence about immigration • Critical times for parent’s presence - puberty, adolescent rituals • Quinceañera, graduations

  25. Preliminary Findings • Unexpected themes • English learner classes as community • Role of technology in maintaining and shaping parent-child relationships across borders • Ambivalence of young women about changing gender roles in US

  26. Family Reunification Issues • Puberty seems to be a critical time for parents & youth to be connected • Youths especially miss same gender parent • Rituals of adolescence (quinceañera, graduations) • Parents not always conscious of the “culture shock” of encountering racism & discrimination for new arrivals

  27. Family Reunification Issues • Findings from the literature: • Transition may be easier • with preparation, when caretaker in home country & parent in host country support each other’s roles • when parents have some awareness of potential reunification problems • “Anticipatory guidance” a big part of pediatric/adolescent health care • Could youth & parents benefit from anticipatory guidance?

  28. Growing Up in the Transnational Family • Next steps: stay tuned- qualitative study of what is working for late immigrant youth reunifying with families in Mission District • Contact: Naomi A. Schapiro, RN, PhD (c), CPNP naomi.schapiro@nursing.ucsf.edu References available

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