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Health Status in Immigrants and Native Early Adolescents in Italy

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Abstract

The aim of the study was to compare health status between native and immigrant early adolescents in Italy and to analyze related psychosocial factors. Data were taken from “Health Behavior in School Aged Children”, a cross-sectional survey investigating health behaviors among early adolescents in selected European countries. A representative sample of 6,744 (50.4% males) Italian students (11, 13 and 15-years-old) completed a questionnaire. Students were assessed for demographics characteristics, socio-economic conditions, social support and bullying victimization, and, as dependent variables, for health complaints, self-reported health, life satisfaction and happiness. It turned out that immigrant adolescents, as compared to natives, are more often affected by psychosomatic symptoms, less satisfied about their health and about life, and less happy. A multiple regression model showed that migration itself is related to life satisfaction and happiness. Socio-economic inequalities, lack of social integration and victimization determine the differences between immigrants and natives in terms of health symptoms and self-reported health. Immigrant adolescents demonstrated worse health status then their native classmates. However, the differences in terms of subjective well-being are not explained by socio-economic differences, lack of social integration and discrimination.

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Acknowledgments

Data are from the regional administration of the World Health Organization “Health Behavior of School-Aged Children” survey in Veneto, Italy. The research was carried out in collaboration with and funded by: Centro Regionale di Riferimento per la Promozione della Salute, c/o Azienda ULSS 20, Regione Veneto, Italia. International coordinator for the 2005/6 study: Candace Currie, Edinburgh University; Data Bank Manager: Bente Wold, Bergen University; National coordinator: Franco Cavallo, University of Turin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, via Belzoni, 80, 35131, Padova, Italy

    Alessio Vieno, Massimo Santinello & Michela Lenzi

  2. Regional Centre for Health Promotion, Veneto Region, via Marconi, 27F, 37122, Verona, Italy

    Daniela Baldassari & Massimo Mirandola

Authors
  1. Alessio Vieno
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  2. Massimo Santinello
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  3. Michela Lenzi
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  5. Massimo Mirandola
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Correspondence to Alessio Vieno.

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Vieno, A., Santinello, M., Lenzi, M. et al. Health Status in Immigrants and Native Early Adolescents in Italy. J Community Health 34, 181–187 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-008-9144-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-008-9144-2

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