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Diverse Experience of Immigrant Children: How Do Separation and Reunification Shape Their Development?

Lu, Yao; He, Qian; Brooks-Gunn, Jeanne

Although many immigrant children to the U.S. arrive with their parents, a notable proportion are first separated and later reunited with their parents. How do the experiences of separation and reunification shape the well-being of immigrant children? Data were from a national survey of legal adult immigrants and their families, the New Immigrant Survey from 2003-2004 (for academic achievement, age 6-12, N=876; for psychosocial well-being, age 6-17, N=1,084). Results indicated that immigrant children who were once separated from their parents exhibited poorer literacy and higher risk of emotional and behavioral problems than those who migrated with parents. A protracted period of separation and previous undocumented status of parents amplified the disadvantages experienced by these children.

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Title
Child Development
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13171

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Academic Units
Pediatrics
Sociology
Published Here
December 10, 2019