Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

The “Immigrant Paradox” Phenomenon: Assessing Problem Behaviors and Risk Factors Among Immigrant and Native Adolescents

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
The Journal of Primary Prevention Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We investigated the “immigrant paradox” phenomenon by examining differences in problem behavior engagement and exposure to risk factors across four adolescent groups: 1,157 first-generation, 1,498 second-generation, and 3,316 White and minority third or higher generations. Latent mean differences in problem behavior engagement (i.e., academic failure, aggression, and substance use) and risk factors (i.e., low socioeconomic status, poor family relationship, and low sense of school belonging) were associated with significant differences across adolescent groups. Results supported the generational status effect by demonstrating sequentially greater adolescent problem behavior engagement. However, the difference in exposure to risk factors across adolescent groups only partially supported the immigrant paradox. Further, the multiple group analysis of the relationships between risk factors and engagement in problem behaviors showed increased susceptibility among second generation immigrants for substance use, White natives for academic failure and substance use, and minority natives for physical aggression. Study findings have implications for understanding how the immigrant paradox leads to different adjustment patterns and problem behavior manifestations among immigrant and native adolescents.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bandura, A. (1978). Social learning theory of aggression. Journal of Communication, 28(3), 12–29.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Batalova, J., & Lee, A. (2012). US in Focus: Frequently requested statistics on immigrants and immigration in the United States. Washington, DC: Migration Policy Institute. Retrieved from http://www.migrationinformation.org/USfocus/display.cfm?id=886 on September 11, 2012.

  • Berry, J. W. (1997). Immigration, acculturation and adaptation. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 46, 5–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berry, J. W. (2003). Conceptual approaches to acculturation. In K. Chun, P. Balls-Organista, & G. Marin (Eds.), Acculturation: Advances in theory, measurement and applied research (pp. 17–37). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blake, S. M., Ledsky, R., Goodenow, C., & O’Donnell, L. (2001). Recency of immigration, substance use, and sexual behavior among Massachusetts adolescents. American Journal of Public Health, 91(5), 794–798.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, M. W., & Cudeck, R. (1993). Alternative ways of assessing model fit. In K. A. Bollen & J. S. Long (Eds.), Testing structural equation models (pp. 136–162). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bui, H. N. (2012). Immigrant generational status and delinquency in adolescence: Segmented assimilation and racial–ethnic differences. In C. García Coll & A. K. Marks (Eds.), The immigrant paradox in children and adolescents: Is becoming American a developmental risk? (pp. 135–158). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Buriel, R. (2012). Historical origins of the immigrant paradox for Mexican American students: The Cultural integration hypothesis. In C. García Coll & A. K. Marks (Eds.), The immigrant paradox in children and adolescents: Is becoming American a developmental risk? (pp. 37–60). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Buriel, R., Calzada, S., & Vasquez, R. (1982). The relationship of traditional Mexican American culture to adjustment and delinquency among three generations of Mexican American male adolescents. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 4, 41–55. doi:10.1177/07399863820041003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Byrne, B. M. (2012). Structural equation modeling with Mplus: Basic concepts, applications, and programming. New York: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.

    Google Scholar 

  • Byrne, B. M., & Stewart, S. M. (2006). The MACS approach to testing for multigroup invariance of a second-order structure: A walk through the process. Structural Equation Modeling, 13, 287–321. doi:10.1207/s15328007sem1302_7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Youth risk behavior surveillanceUnited States, 2011. MMWR 61 (No.SS-4): 1–164.

  • Chantala, K. & Tabor, J. (1999) Strategies to perform a design-based analysis using the Add Health data. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved from. http://www.cpc.unc.edu/projects/addhealth/faqs/aboutdata/weight1.pdf September 26, 2012.

  • Chiswick, B. R. (1979). The economic progress of immigrants: Some apparently universal patterns. In W. Fellner (Ed.), Contemporary economic problems (pp. 357–399). Washington, DC: American Enterprise Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarkson, L. (2008). Demographic data and immigrant student achievement. Theory Into Practice, 47(1), 20–26. doi:10.1080/00405840701764698.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crosnoe, R. (2012). Studying the immigrant paradox in the Mexican-origin population. In C. García Coll & A. K. Marks (Eds.), The immigrant paradox in children and adolescents: Is becoming American a developmental risk? (pp. 61–76). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Crosnoe, R., & Turley, R. (2011). K-12 educational outcomes of immigrant youth. Future of Children, 21(1), 129–152.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Davey, A., Savla, J., & Luo, Z. (2005). Issues in evaluating model fit with missing data. Structural Equation Modeling, 12(4), 578–597. doi:10.1207/s15328007sem1204_4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ewert, S. (2009). Student misbehavior during senior year: A comparison of immigrants and the native-born. Social Science Research, 38(4), 826–839. doi:10.1016/j.ssresearch.2009.04.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fischhoff, B., Nightingale, E. O., & Iannotta, J. G. (2001). Adolescent risk and vulnerability: Concepts and measurement. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flory, K., Brown, T. L., Lynam, D. R., Miller, J. D., Leukefeld, C., & Clayton, R. R. (2006). Developmental patterns of African American and Caucasian adolescents’ alcohol use. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 12, 740–746.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fuligni, A. J. (2012). The Intersection of aspirations and resources in the development of children from immigrant families. In C. García Coll & A. K. Marks (Eds.), The immigrant paradox in children and adolescents: Is becoming American a developmental risk? (pp. 299–307). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • García Coll, C., & Marks, A. K. (2012). The immigrant paradox in children and adolescents: Is becoming American a developmental risk?. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Georgiades, K., Boyle, M. H., & Duku, E. (2007). Contextual influences on children’s mental health and school performance: The Moderating effects of family immigrant status. Child Development, 78, 1572–1591.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, M. A. (2001). Immigrant adaptation and patterns of acculturation. Human Development, 44, 19–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenman, E. (2011). Assimilation choices among immigrant families: Does school context Matter? International Migration Review, 45(1), 29–67. doi:10.1111/j.1747-7379.2010.00828.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hao, L., & Bonstead-Bruns, M. (1998). Parent-child difference in educational expectations and academic achievement of immigrant and native students. Sociology of Education, 71, 175–198. doi:10.2307/2673201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hao, L., & Ma, Y. (2012). Immigrant youth in postsecondary education. In C. García Coll & A. K. Marks (Eds.), The immigrant paradox in children and adolescents: Is becoming American a developmental risk? (pp. 275–296). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, K. M. (1999). The health status and risk behaviors of adolescents in immigrant families. In D. J. Hernandez (Ed.), Children of immigrants: Health, adjustment, and public assistance (pp. 286–347). Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez, D. J. (1999). Children of immigrants: Health, adjustment, and public assistance. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu, L. T., & Bentler, P. M. (1998). Fit indices in covariance structure modeling: Sensitivity to underparameterized model misspecification. Psychological Methods, 3, 424–453. doi:10.1037/1082-989X.3.4.424.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jessor, R. (1987). Problem-behavior theory, psychosocial development, and adolescent problem drinking. British Journal of Addiction, 82, 331–342.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jessor, R. (2008). Description versus explanation in cross-national research on adolescence. Journal of Adolescent Health, 43, 527–528.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kao, G. (1999). Psychological well-being and educational achievement among immigrant youth. In D. J. Hernandez (Ed.), Children of immigrants: Health, adjustment, and public assistance (pp. 410–477). Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kao, G., & Tienda, M. (1995). Optimism and achievement: The educational performance of immigrant youth. Social Science Quarterly, 76, 1–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasinitz, P., Mollenkopf, J. H., Waters, M. C., & Holdaway, J. (2008). Inheriting the city: The children of immigrants come of age. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerr, M. A., & Schneider, B. H. (2008). Anger expression in children and adolescents: A review of the empirical literature. Clinical Psychology Review, 28, 559–577.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kline, R. B. (2005). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kwan, Y. K., & Ip, W. C. (2007). Suicidality and migration among adolescents in Hong Kong. Death Studies, 31(1), 45–66. doi:10.1080/07481180600993144.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marsiglia, F., Kulis, S., Parsai, M., Villar, P., & Garcia, C. (2009). Cohesion and conflict: Family influences on adolescent alcohol use in immigrant Latino families. Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, 8(4), 400–412. doi:10.1080/15332640903327526.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martinez, C. R., McClure, H. H., Eddy, J., & Wilson, D. (2011). Time in U.S. residency and the social, behavioral, and emotional adjustment of Latino immigrant families. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 33(3), 323–349.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mobley, M., & Chun, H. (2013). Testing Jessor’s problem behavior theory and syndrome: A nationally representative comparative sample of Latino and African American adolescents. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 19(2), 190–199. doi:10.1037/a0031916.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (2007). Mplus user’s guide (5th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Muthén & Muthén.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishimura, S. T., Hishinuma, E. S., Else, I. R. N., Goebert, D. A., & Andrade, N. N. (2005). Ethnicity and adolescent substance use. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 11, 239–258.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nuñez, A. (2009). A critical paradox? Predictors of Latino students’ sense of belonging in college. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 2(1), 46–61. doi:10.1037/a0014099.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Padilla, A. M., & Duran, D. (1995). The psychological dimension in understanding immigrant students. In R. G. Rumbaut & W. A. Cornelius (Eds.), California’s immigrant children: Theory, research, and implications for educational policy (pp. 131–160). San Diego, CA: Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Passel, J. S. (2011). Demography of immigrant youth: Past, present, and future. The Future of Children, 21(1), 19–41.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Perez, W., & Padilla, A. M. (2000). Cultural orientation across three generations of Hispanic adolescents. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 22(3), 390.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Planty, M., Hussar, W., Snyder, T., Kena, G., KewalRamani, A., Kemp, J., Bianco, K., & Dinkes, R. (2009). The Condition of Education 2009 (NCES 2009-081). National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education.

  • Pong, S., & Hao, L. (2007). Neighborhood and school factors in the school performance of immigrants’ children. International Migration Review, 41(1), 206–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pong, S., Hao, L., & Gardner, E. (2005). The roles of parenting styles and social capital in the school performance of immigrant Asian and Hispanic adolescents. Social Science Quarterly, 86(4), 928–950. doi:10.1111/j.0038-4941.2005.00364.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pong, S., & Zeiser, K. L. (2012). Student engagement, school climate, and academic achievement of immigrants’ children. In C. García Coll & A. K. Marks (Eds.), The immigrant paradox in children and adolescents Is becoming American a developmental risk? (pp. 209–232). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Portes, A., & Zhou, M. (1993). The new second generation: Segmented assimilation and its variants. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 530, 74–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rumbaut, R. (2005). Children of immigrants and their achievement: The role of family, acculturation, social class, ethnicity, and school contexts. In R. D. Taylor (Ed.), Addressing the achievement gap: Theory informing practice (pp. 23–59). Greenwich, CT: Information Age.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sam, D. L., Vedder, P., Liebkind, K., Neto, F., & Virta, E. (2008). Immigration, acculturation and the paradox of adaptation in Europe. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 5(2), 138–158. doi:10.1080/17405620701563348.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, S. J., Unger, J. B., Zamboanga, B. L., & Szapocznik, J. (2010). Rethinking the concept of acculturation: Implications for theory and research. American Psychologist, 65(4), 237–251. doi:10.1037/a0019330.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simms, K. (2012). A Hierarchical examination of the immigrant achievement gap: The additional explanatory power of nationality and educational selectivity over traditional explorations of race and socioeconomic status. Journal of Advanced Academics, 23(1), 72–98. doi:10.1177/1932202X11430270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smokowski, P., Buchanan, R. L., & Bacallao, M. L. (2009a). Acculturation and adjustment in Latino adolescents: How cultural risk factors and assets influence multiple domains of adolescent mental health. Journal of Primary Prevention, 30(3–4), 371–393.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smokowski, P. R., David-Ferdon, C., & Bacallao, M. L. (2009b). Acculturation and adolescent health: Moving the field forward. Journal of Primary Prevention, 30(3–4), 209–214. doi:10.1007/s10935-009-0183-y.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sórbóm, D. (1974). A general method for studying differences in factor means and factor structures between groups. British Journal of Mathematical and Statistical Psychology, 27, 229–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suárez-Orozco, C., Rhodes, J., & Milburn, M. (2009). Unraveling the immigrant paradox: Academic engagement and disengagement among recently arrived immigrant youth. Youth & Society, 41(5), 151–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tseng, V., & Fuligni, A. J. (2000). Parent-adolescent language use and relationships among immigrant families with East Asian, Filipino, and Latin American backgrounds. Journal of Marriage and Family, 62(2), 465–476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Unger, J. B., Ritt-Olson, A., Wagner, K. D., Soto, D. W., & Baezconde-Garbanati, L. (2009). Parent-child acculturation patterns and substance use among Hispanic adolescents: A longitudinal analysis. Journal of Primary Prevention, 30(3–4), 293–313.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, J. M, Jr. (1999). Explaining race differences in adolescent and young adult drug use: The role of racialized social systems. Drugs & Society, 14, 21–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watt, T., & Rogers, J. (2007). Factors contributing to differences in substance use among Black and White adolescents. Youth & Society, 39(1), 54–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Worthington, R., & Whittaker, T. (2006). Scale development research: A content analysis and recommendations for best practices. The Counseling Psychologist, 34(6), 806–838. doi:10.1177/0011000006288127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, M. (1997). Segmented assimilation: Issues, controversies, and recent research on the new second generation. International Migration Review, 31, 975–1019.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Heejung Chun.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chun, H., Mobley, M. The “Immigrant Paradox” Phenomenon: Assessing Problem Behaviors and Risk Factors Among Immigrant and Native Adolescents. J Primary Prevent 35, 339–356 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-014-0359-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-014-0359-y

Keywords

Navigation