Appropriate access to and maintenance of mental health among first-generation children of immigrants is currently limited by several systemic and personal factors. Currently, elements of economic disparities, the social stigma associated with poor mental health, and barriers to mental health resources and services influence the mental well-being of first-generation children. Interventions would have to be accessible, culturally sensitive, and adaptive to other interfering factors such as stigma, racism, or disparity in economic backgrounds.
Prevalence
The prevalence of issues associated with CBT and the treatment of frequently occurring issues among first-generation immigrants, which include anxiety, conduct, and ADHD disorders, is currently uncertain due to the lack of experimental and academic evidence and material. They have been noted to have increased rates of conduct, ADHD, and mood and anxiety disorders among younger populations seeking mental health (Gadermann et al., 2022). The data on mental health issues prevalence generally among immigrants and first-generation immigrants shows that mood and anxiety disorders are widespread (Casa et al., 2020). Besides, there are high rates of increased anxiety, obsessive thoughts, and other types of anxiety disorders among immigrants (Casa et al., 2020). Many versions explain the reasons for such statistics, and it is assumed that it depends on the change of residence. A new environment, language, mentality, and being far from home can be the root cause of these types of disorders.
Major Causes
Issues associated with mental well-being among first-generation immigrants are often related to external stressors. They are often reflective of pressures that have been placed on prior generations, usually their parents, and possess unique qualities and influences. The primary cause includes transcultural stressors, thus, the result of changing one’s environment (Kim et al., 2019). Children of immigrants and related populations are more likely to experience neighborhood disadvantages, economic disparity, and exposure to higher crime rates as factors that contribute to transcultural stressors within mental health. Culture-specific stressors relate to traumas, potential exposure to exploitation, discrimination, and other detrimental experiences that correlate directly with the development of mental health issues.
The next cause is connected with the cultural aspect, and similarly to the first one, it is connected with changes in one’s environment. Thereby, this cause lies in culture-specific stressors, in other words, changing the cultural environment (Kim et al., 2019). It includes significant differences in cultural traditions and principles of different peoples. Thus, when this environment changes, a person experiences significant discomfort, which can become a trigger for mental health issues.
Major Consequences
Much like the consequences, mental health issues among the children of immigrants present several consequences dictated by external and internal influences. These usually include the pressure to achieve familial and financial success, a multifaceted but potentially taxing identity, and detriment to well-being as a result of racism, discrimination, and other conflicts based on immigrant status. The consequences observed within the inner circles as well as social or systemic interactions of these populations have shown that mental health issues among the children of immigrants are almost twice as high as they were for their parents, with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorders proving especially prevalent (Todd & Martin, 2020). Currently, CBT practices have been noted to be both successful in reducing symptoms in non-specific populations, but the approach toward children of immigrants remains largely unresearched. However, the consequences are formulated by irreparable changes in the mental state of an individual.
References
Casa, J. B., Benuto, L. T., & Gonzalez, F. (2020). Latinos, anxiety, and cognitive behavioral therapy: A systematic review. International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy, 20(1), 91-104.
Gadermann, A. M. et al. (2022). Prevalence of mental health disorders among immigrant, refugee, and non-immigrant children and youth in British Columbia, Canada.JAMA Network Open, 5(2).
Kim, S., Schwartz, S. J., Perreira, K. M., & Juang, L. P. (2019). Culture’s influence on stressors, parental socialization, and developmental processes in the mental health of children of immigrants.Annual Review Clinical Psychology, 14(1), 343-370.
Todd, H. & Martin., E. (2020). Children of immigrants and their mental health needs. Think Global Health.