Review of: The Immigrant Paradox in Children and Adolescents: Is Becoming American a Developmental Risk?

• Published in: Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology 2012-10, Vol.18 (4), p.429-430
• Main Author: Reynaga-Abiko, Geneva
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent Development; Childhood Development; Education; Health; Human; Immigration; Quality of Life; Racial and Ethnic Differences; Well Being
• ISSN: 1099-9809; 1939-0106
• DOI: 10.1037/a0028424

Reviews the book, The Immigrant Paradox in Children and Adolescents: Is Becoming American a Developmental Risk? (see record 2011-09286-000). It is arguable that immigrants come to the U.S. with the belief that their quality of life will improve, especially for their children, but does this actually happen? And, if yes, does it happen equally for each immigrant group? This book focuses on this very issue throughout its 328 pages. Though it focuses mostly on Latina/o immigrants, with some mention of Asians as well, this makes sense considering most current U.S. immigrants are from Asia or Latin America. Most of the authors are either psychologists or sociologists with an interdisciplinary perspective, required to document “the educational, health, and behavioral outcomes among immigrant children and adolescents across a variety of nationality groups, ages, and immigrant generations.” The editors make it clear in the Introduction that they hope to inform policy and practices with the research contained in the book, and there are numerous future research and policy considerations offered in the text. Overall, in the reviewer's opinion, this volume clearly adds to the literature and is important for shedding light on an issue relevant to everyone in the U.S. It provides solid history of the concept of the immigrant paradox in addition to a variety of nuanced data. It is arguably the most comprehensive volume available at this time regarding the immigrant paradox. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)