Immigrant Youth Have Significantly Lower Rates of Externalizing Behavior than Native-Born Americans: Differences by Region of Birth

Abstract

A large proportion of Americans have the opinion that immigrants increase crime. Although past research has not found immigrant status to be associated with criminal behavior, American immigration policy has historically discriminated against certain groups based on their region of birth due to safety concerns. The purpose of the present study was to examine differences in externalizing behavior by immigrant's region of birth. Data was used from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Cohort (ECLS-K), a nationally representative and longitudinal study of 21,260 kindergarteners. A series of Poisson regression models were used to predict externalizing behavior of fifth grade students from immigrant status and parent's region of birth. Analyses controlled for demographic characteristics of the child and family and were adjusted by probability weights and primary sampling unit provided by the ECLS-K. After controlling for family income and parents' educational status, immigrant youth had 0.04 lower externalizing behavior scores compared to native-born American youth (B = - 0.04, 95% CI - 0.06 to - 0.01). When considering differences by region of origin, youth from Asia (B = - 0.12, 95% CI - 0.17 to - 0.07) and Central America (B = - 0.10, 95% CI - 0.14 to - 0.05) had significantly lower externalizing behavior compared to native-born American youth, after controlling for covariates. In fifth grade, immigrant youth have significantly lower rates of externalizing behavior than native-born Americans. In particular, immigrant youth from Asia and Central America engaged in significantly less externalizing behavior than native-born Americans. No region of origin engaged in significantly more externalizing behavior than native-born youth.

Family cohesion and school belongingness: Protective factors for immigrant youth against bias‐based bullying

“…It is also important to note that bullying was not significantly related to externalizing behaviors for immigrant youth, although it was for nonimmigrant youth. These findings are consistent with past research indicating that immigrant youth, in general, are more likely to report internalizing as opposed to externalizing difficulties compared to native born youth (Kremer, Sutton, & Kremer, 2019). According to Ecological Systems Theory, cultural values such as simpatia (i.e., seeking harmonious social interactions; sacrificing one's own needs for the sake of others’ needs; Holloway, Waldrip, & Ickes, 2009) and norms that are strengthened through family cohesion, may make immigrant adolescents more likely to repress their feelings from bullying victimization as opposed to acting out.…”

Examining the Relationship Between Direct Exposure to Violence and Delinquent Behavior Across Different Immigrant Generations

“…Contrary to some political opinion, immigration is not associated with crime but has actually been found to suppress it (Ferraro, 2016;Kremer et al, 2019;Lee & Martinez, 2002;MacDonald et al, 2013;Lee et al, 2001;Nielsen et al, 2005;Ousey & Kubrin, 2014Stowell et al, 2009), especially, among first-generation immigrants. However, immigration research has also found that second-generation immigrants reported a surge in crimes (Bersani, 2014a;Bersani et al, 2014;Bersani, 2014b;Morenoff & Astor, 2006) and other types of delinquency (Cavanagh, 2007;Hamilton et al, 2012;Kopak, 2013;Peña et al, 2008).…”

“…However, study results contradict the criminal potential of immigrant perception held by some members of the public. Studies have shown diminutive evidence to support that immigration and crime are correlated either in aggregate- or individual-level studies, and in systematic reviews (Ferraro, 2016; Kremer et al, 2019; Lee & Martinez, 2002; Lee et al, 2001; MacDonald et al, 2013; Nielsen et al, 2005; Ousey & Kubrin, 2014, 2018; Stowell et al, 2009). In fact, prior studies have found cities with significant increases in foreign-born population experienced greater declines in crimes, while metropolitan areas with gains in concentrations of immigrants showed a decrease in violent crimes (Ferraro, 2016; Kubrin & Ousey, 2009; Stowell et al, 2009).…”

“…The null or negative relationship between immigration and crime has been revealed (Ferraro, 2016; Kremer et al, 2019; Lee & Martinez, 2002; MacDonald et al, 2013; Lee et al, 2001; Nielsen et al, 2005; Ousey & Kubrin, 2014; Stowell et al, 2009). However, studies have also found that second-generation youth report significantly higher criminal behavior than first-generation youth (Bersani, 2014a; Bersani et al, 2014; Bersani, 2014b; Morenoff & Astor, 2006).…”

School anxiety and depression among immigrant youth in America: Differences by region of birth and language proficiency

“…Particularly, using a sub‐sample of Latino children in elementary school, Dawson and Williams () found children with foreign‐born parents to have heightened internalizing behavior and lessened externalizing behavior in kindergarten, yet these findings did not persist into first grade. Similarly, using the full sample of the ECLS‐K, Kremer, Sutton, and Kremer (2019) observed youth with immigrant parents from Asia and Central America to have lower externalizing behavior than youth with native‐born parents. Turney and Kao () further found Asian and Hispanic foreign‐born kindergarteners to have reduced social interaction skills.…”