First-Generation Immigrant Children

This present review paper will be investigating the topic of first language (L1) attrition, primarily concentrating on how this process is realized in first-generation immigrant children, meaning children who either were born in a country different than the one their parents were born in or foreign-born children whose parents immigrated when that person was very young. This angle is particularly interesting as this L1 attrition is simultaneously co-occurring with second language (L2) acquisition and is connected to a multitude of sociolinguistic factors, the most important of which is the concept of sociolinguistic prestige as well as the concept of age-based speech communities and how the members of these communities influence one another's speech. The main goal is to gain more insight into how first language attrition research has taken into account such complex social matters as well as understanding the effects social/cognitive factors like these have on children who are being exposed to more than one language in their everyday life. To further the understanding of the social component of L1 attrition, this paper presents a comparison between two examples of language policy, in Romania and in the Netherlands, concerning multilingualism in society as well as in education.

Download Full-text

The Family Unit and International Migration: The Perceptions of Italian Immigrant Children

International Migration Review ◽

10.1177/019791839701100303 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 326-333 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Suzanne Ziegler

Keyword(s):

International Migration ◽

First Generation ◽

Nuclear Family ◽

Immigrant Children ◽

Family Ties ◽

Family Unit ◽

Generation Immigrant ◽

The Family ◽

Intergenerational Ties ◽

Migratory Process

This paper examines the centrality of the family, both nuclear and extended in the Italian postwar migratory process to Canada and in their post-migratory adjustment. In a series of interviews with first generation immigrant children, two themes emerged: the necessity of keeping the nuclear family together and the importance of intergenerational ties and commitments. The respondents tended to view their parents’ decision to migrate as one primarily motivated by familial considerations. That is, it was seen as a decision based on their future as a family, whether for reunification, or for greater opportunities for the children. For these respondents, family ties have not only survived migration but have been fortified by it.

Download Full-text

Where Do Immigrant Children Come From and Why?

Monitor ISH ◽

10.33700/1580-7118.16.2.101-126(2014) ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 101-126

Author(s):

Marijanca Ajša Vižintin

Keyword(s):

Primary Schools ◽

First Generation ◽

The United States ◽

Immigrant Children ◽

Migrant Children ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Family Reunion ◽

Early 21St Century ◽

Generation Immigrant ◽

Children And Parents

The early 21st century continues the trend from the later 20th century: the first-generation immigrant children who move to Slovenia most often come from the states established after the disintegration of former Yugoslavia – from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, as well as from Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro. There are few arrivals from other states and continents, such as Bulgaria, Ukraine, or the United States of America. This article presents certain experiences that vary for each immigrant family, although they may hail from the same country. We quote some of the reasons for immigration as represented by the migrant children and parents themselves, comparing them to the findings of migrant theories. In 2011, semi-structured interviews with immigrant children were conducted in three Slovenian primary schools, and it was ascertained that most of them had come to Slovenia for the sake of family reunion.

Download Full-text

Can Community and School-Based Supports Improve the Achievement of First-Generation Immigrant Children Attending High-Poverty Schools?

Child Development ◽

10.1111/cdev.12507 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 87 (3) ◽

pp. 883-897 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Eric Dearing ◽

Mary E. Walsh ◽

Erin Sibley ◽

Terry Lee-St.John ◽

Claire Foley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

First Generation ◽

Immigrant Children ◽

High Poverty ◽

High Poverty Schools ◽

School Based ◽

Generation Immigrant

Download Full-text

Physical Activity Among Immigrant Children: A Systematic Review

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2019-0272 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (10) ◽

pp. 1047-1058

Author(s):

Yannick Lacoste ◽

Kelsey Needham Dancause ◽

Justine Gosselin-Gagne ◽

Tegwen Gadais

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

First Generation ◽

Ethnic Origin ◽

Immigrant Children ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Immigration Status ◽

Asian Origin ◽

Future Studies ◽

Generation Immigrant ◽

And Gender

Background: The health benefits of physical activity (PA) for children are well documented. However, little is known about PA patterns among immigrant children. Methods: The authors reviewed research on PA patterns of immigrant children. The inclusion criteria included peer-reviewed articles published from January 2010 to May 2018 in English, French, or Spanish that included primary-school-aged (6–12 y) children, and data on immigration status. Results: A total of 11 articles were included in the analyses. These studies revealed a deficit of PA among immigrant children. Immigration status (immigrant or nonimmigrant) and generation of immigration (first, second, and third), ethnic origin, and gender were associated with PA patterns. In general, PA levels were lower among first-generation immigrant children, children of Hispanic and East Asian origin, and girls. The results suggest that questionnaire measures might be biased or inaccurate among immigrant children, highlighting the need for the integration of mixed methods (objective and subjective measures). Conclusions: A large proportion of children do not meet PA guidelines, and this might be more problematic for immigrant children. Future studies incorporating time since immigration, comparative analyses on gender, sociocultural and socioeconomic characteristics, and mixed methodology could provide a more complete portrait of PA patterns and opportunities for immigrant children.

Download Full-text

Factors determining chance of type 2 diabetes remission after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery: a nationwide cohort study in 8057 Swedish patients

BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care ◽

10.1136/bmjdrc-2020-002033 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. e002033

Author(s):

Erik Stenberg ◽

Torsten Olbers ◽

Yang Cao ◽

Magnus Sundbom ◽

Anders Jans ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Weight Loss ◽

Gastric Bypass ◽

Metabolic Surgery ◽

First Generation ◽

Hemoglobin A1c ◽

Diabetes Remission ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Generation Immigrant

IntroductionBariatric and metabolic surgery is an effective treatment option for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Increased knowledge regarding factors associated with diabetes remission is essential in individual decision making and could guide postoperative care. Therefore, we aimed to explore factors known to affect the chance of achieving diabetes remission after bariatric and metabolic surgery and to further investigate the impact of socioeconomic factors.Research design and methodsIn this nationwide study, we assessed all patients with T2D who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery between 2007 and 2015 in the Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Registry. Remission was defined as absence of antidiabetic medication for T2D 2 years after surgery. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated with diabetes remission, with missing data handled by multiple imputations.ResultsA total of 8057 patients were included. Mean age±SD was 47.4±10.1 years, mean body mass index 42.2±5.7 kg/m2, mean hemoglobin A1c 59.0±17.33, and 61.7% (n=4970) were women. Two years after surgery, 6211 (77.1%) patients achieved T2D remission. Preoperative insulin treatment (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.30), first-generation immigrant (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.77), duration of T2D (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.88 to 0.90), dyslipidemia (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.81), age (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.96 to 0.97), and high glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98 to 0.99) were all associated with lower T2D remission rate. In contrast, residence in a medium-sized (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.20 to 1.61) or small (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.25 to 1.71) town and percentage of total weight loss (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.04) were associated with higher remission rates.ConclusionAmong patients with T2D undergoing RYGB surgery, increasing age, HbA1c, and diabetes duration decreased the chance of reaching diabetes remission without cut-offs, while postoperative weight loss demonstrated a positive linear association. In addition, being a first-generation immigrant and living in a large city were socioeconomic factors having a negative association.

Download Full-text

“The Way to School between Two Worlds”: Documenting the Knowledge of Second-Generation Immigrant Children in Switzerland, 1977–1983

KNOW A Journal on the Formation of Knowledge ◽

10.1086/704757 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 305-330

Author(s):

Kijan Espahangizi

Keyword(s):

Second Generation ◽

Immigrant Children ◽

Generation Immigrant ◽

The Way

Download Full-text

Immigrant-Origin Students in Community College: How Do They Use Their Time on Campus?

Teachers College Record ◽

10.1177/016146811912100702 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 121 (7) ◽

pp. 1-48

Author(s):

Edwin Hernandez ◽

Carola Suárez-Orozco ◽

Janet Cerda ◽

Olivia Osei-Twumasi ◽

Monique Corral ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Community College ◽

Community Colleges ◽

Peer Relationships ◽

First Generation ◽

Second Generation ◽

The United States ◽

Foreign Born ◽

Grade Point ◽

Class Time ◽

Generation Immigrant

Background Immigrant-origin students are the fastest growing new population in community colleges, making up nearly a third of the community college population. To date, little is known about how immigrant-origin students make use of their time on community college campuses. Purpose This study sought to understand in what ways and to what extent immigrant-origin students—defined as first-generation (foreign-born) or second-generation (born in the United States to immigrant parents)—used their out-of-class campus time at three urban community colleges. We examined the following quantitative questions: How much time do students report spending on campus doing what activities? What is the demographic variation in these patterns (according to immigrant generation, ethnicity/race, and gender)? What factors predict how much overall time immigrant-origin students spend on campus? What is the effect of academically productive time spent on campus on grade point average for immigrant-origin students? We also explored the following qualitative questions: What do immigrant-origin community college students say about the time they spend on campus? What insights do they have as to what impedes or facilitates their spending (or not spending) time on campus? Research Design The study proposed a new conceptual framework and employed an embedded sequential explanatory mixed-methods design approach. As part of a survey, participants (N = 644, 54.6% women; M age = 20.2 years; first-generation immigrant n = 213, 33%; second-generation immigrant n = 275, 43%) completed a series of items about the time that they spent on campus and their relationships with their instructors and peers. Qualitative response data were derived from an embedded interview subsample of participants (n = 58). Results Immigrant-origin students reported spending a considerable amount of out-of-class time—an average of 9.2 hours—on campus. Hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated that peer relationships and time spent helping parents or commuting positively predicted the amount of time students spent on campus. Qualitative responses provided further insights into immigrant-origin community college student experiences and provided perspectives on issues contributing to their spending out-of-class time on campus. Conclusions This study has implications for research, practice, and policy, given that immigrant-origin students make considerable use of their campus spaces. Community colleges should strive to nurture positive spaces and design the kind of on-campus programming that will enhance the success of immigrant-origin students. Collectively, these services will not only enhance the experience of immigrant-origin students but also be beneficial to the larger campus community that uses the community college sector as a stepping-stone toward upward social and economic mobility.

Download Full-text