Behavioral Functioning among Mexican-origin Children

Abstract

Using data on 2,535 children included in the Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Survey, we investigate how the legal status of immigrant parents shapes their children’s behavioral functioning. Variation in internalizing and externalizing problems among Mexican youth with undocumented mothers, documented or naturalized citizen mothers, and U.S.-born mothers is analyzed using a comparative framework that contrasts their experience with that of other ethnoracial groups. Our findings reinforce the importance of differentiating children of immigrants by parental legal status in studying health and well-being. Children of undocumented Mexican migrants have significantly higher risks of internalizing and externalizing behavior problems than their counterparts with documented or naturalized citizen mothers. Regression results are inconsistent with simple explanations that emphasize group differences in socioeconomic status, maternal mental health, or family routines.

Unauthorized Status and Youth Development in the United States: Consensus Statement of the Society for Research on Adolescence

“…Having a parent who is unauthorized is associated with a number of developmental and educational vulnerabilities in U.S.‐born children and youth, including lower levels of cognitive development, achievement, and educational progress across early and middle childhood (Brabeck, Sibley, Taubin, & Murcia, ; Ortega et al., ; Yoshikawa, ). Landale and colleagues found higher internalizing (depression, anxiety, withdrawal) and externalizing (aggressive and acting out) behavioral problems in a sample of Mexican‐origin, primary‐school‐age children with unauthorized parents, relative to their counterparts with documented or citizen parents (Landale, Hardie, Oropesa, & Hillemeier, ). By adolescence, having a parent with unauthorized status, relative to one who is authorized, was associated with higher levels of self‐reported anxiety and depressive symptoms in a North Carolina study (Potochnick & Perreira, ).…”

Irregular Immigration Status Impacts for Children in the USA

“…Childhood development is bolstered by positive and consistent family routines as well as culturally-based practices (Fuller & García Coll, 2010). Stress from work and unauthorized status can disrupt positive parenting practices and family routines; without these practices, children are at greater risk for emotional and behavioral problems (Landale et al 2015;Van Hook et al, 2013). Suárez-Orozco and explain that fear of authorities and subsequent deportation, low wage and poor work conditions, and overcrowded housing lead to psychological distress, stress, and depression for parents.…”

U.S. Citizen Children of Undocumented Parents: The Link Between State Immigration Policy and the Health of Latino Children

“…These are all psychosocial reactions that exacerbate pre-existing health conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes [6,8]. Parental legal status is a strong predictor in explaining the role of immigration enforcement on poor Latino child health status, particularly a higher risks of internalizing and externalizing behavior problems relative to their counterparts with documented or naturalized citizen mothers [27]. In attempting to understand the role legal status has on family wellbeing, the limited research in this area finds that it is the mother’s legal status that matters the most in predicting children’s health [28].…”