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Is There a Paradox of Adaptation in Immigrant Children and Youth Across Europe? A Literature Review

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Well-Being of Youth and Emerging Adults across Cultures

Part of the book series: Cross-Cultural Advancements in Positive Psychology ((CAPP,volume 12))

Abstract

This review examines how well children of immigrants in Europe are doing in terms of educational, psychological, and behavioral outcomes. Based on theory and research in developmental, social and acculturation psychology fields, we explore the immigrant paradox (e.g., first-generation immigrant children show better adaptation in comparison to their native and second-generation counterparts) and migration morbidity (e.g., immigrants display less favorable outcomes than natives) in 102 studies conducted in 14 European countries. We conclude that theoretical assumptions of developmental (e.g., promoting context in families, schools, neighborhoods), social (e.g., intercultural behaviors and attitudes, lack of discrimination) and acculturation psychology (e.g., cultural maintenance and adoption, biculturalism) are powerful constituents for optimal adaptation of immigrant children and youth. Taken together, these constituents should guide policies and programs targeting optimal outcomes for children of immigrants. A discussion within empirically based policy practices to promote positive outcomes of young immigrant populations in Europe is offered.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

    Radosveta Dimitrova

  2. Hiroshima University, Higashihiroshima, Japan

    Radosveta Dimitrova

  3. Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden

    Sevgi Bayram Özdemir

  4. Instituto Univesitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL) & Centro de Investigação e Intervenção Social (CIS-IUL), Lisbon, Portugal

    Diana Farcas

  5. University of Pannonia, Veszprém, Hungary

    Marianna Kosic

  6. Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Stefanos Mastrotheodoros

  7. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Stefanos Mastrotheodoros

  8. University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland

    Justyna Michałek

  9. Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Sibiu, Romania

    Delia Stefenel

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    Radosveta Dimitrova

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Dimitrova, R. et al. (2017). Is There a Paradox of Adaptation in Immigrant Children and Youth Across Europe? A Literature Review. In: Dimitrova, R. (eds) Well-Being of Youth and Emerging Adults across Cultures . Cross-Cultural Advancements in Positive Psychology, vol 12. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68363-8_18

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