Janice Lozano
The impact of having immigrant parents on university students is a complex issue influenced by various factors, including socioeconomic status, parental involvement, cultural context, and the students' psychological adjustment. Research suggests that children of immigrant parents may face challenges due to lower family incomes, limited access to preschool, and the stress of acculturating to a new cultural context. However, they may also benefit from high parental expectations, strong family ties, and proficiency in multiple languages. The educational inclusion of immigrant students is a critical aspect, as it can impact their academic success and overall well-being. Understanding these factors is essential to support the unique needs and promote the success of university students with immigrant parents.
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What You'll Learn
- The impact of immigrant parents' pre-migration education on their children's academic achievement
- The role of parental engagement and involvement
- The influence of family socioeconomic status
- The effect of culture shock and acculturative stress
- The adjustment to the cultural and educational reality of the host country
The impact of immigrant parents' pre-migration education on their children's academic achievement
Children of immigrant parents face a variety of challenges, including lower family incomes, language barriers, and higher concentrations of childhood poverty. Despite these obstacles, research shows that they perform just as well academically as their peers with native-born parents. In the US, 51% of students with immigrant parents earned mostly A grades, compared to 48% of those with native-born parents.
Several factors contribute to the academic success of students with immigrant parents. One key factor is the high expectations that immigrant parents have for their children's education. Their pre-migration education is also more strongly associated with their children's academic achievement than any other pre- or post-migration attribute. This is particularly true for Mexican-origin children of legal immigrants, whose test score disadvantage relative to their non-Latino counterparts can be explained by their parents' pre-migration educational background.
The educational inclusion of immigrant students is a critical aspect of their academic success. Guidance and counseling can play a crucial role in supporting immigrant students' self-sufficiency, well-being, and stability by addressing issues such as trauma, displacement, and transitional readjustment. Additionally, the cultural context cannot be ignored when understanding the academic success of immigrant students. Contact with a new culture can lead to "culture shock" or "acculturative stress," impacting their opportunities for academic achievement.
While the socioeconomic status of immigrant families can negatively impact the academic performance of their children, some immigrant families possess resources that enhance their children's educational outcomes. For example, Latin American immigrants benefit from strong family and community ties that protect them from negative peer influences and support resilience within disadvantaged schools and neighborhoods. Asian immigrants tend to be the most advantaged academically, possibly due to proactive parental involvement in their children's education.
In conclusion, the impact of immigrant parents' pre-migration education on their children's academic achievement is significant. However, it is essential to consider the various factors that contribute to the academic success of students with immigrant parents, including high parental expectations, educational inclusion, cultural context, and the unique resources that immigrant families bring with them.
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The role of parental engagement and involvement
Empirical evidence supports the positive impact of family social capital on child well-being and academic success. For instance, Valenzuela and Dornbusch (1994) and White and Glick (2000) demonstrate the positive effect of parent-child interaction on educational outcomes. Additionally, parental involvement has been linked to higher GPAs and standardized test scores, increased high school continuation rates, and higher enrolment in postsecondary education.
The cultural context also plays a significant role in the academic success of immigrant students. Contact with a new culture can lead to "culture shock" or "acculturative stress," impacting academic opportunities and outcomes. Therefore, understanding the cultural and educational reality of the host context is crucial for immigrant parents to effectively support their children's school adjustment and reduce feelings of insecurity. Guidance and counselling services can help address trauma, displacement, and transitional readjustment, promoting self-sufficiency and well-being.
Socioeconomic status (SES) is another key factor influencing the academic achievement of immigrant students. The low SES of immigrant families may negatively impact their children's educational outcomes. However, parental post-migration employment can help navigate the school system and positively influence children's academic achievement. Additionally, parental expectations for educational success or better job opportunities can motivate their children to succeed academically.
Parental involvement in school activities may differ between immigrant and native-born parents. Immigrant parents are generally less involved in parent-teacher conferences, fundraising drives, and other school-related activities. However, this lower level of involvement does not seem to negatively impact the academic performance of their children, as students with immigrant parents are just as likely to earn good grades as their peers with native-born parents.
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The influence of family socioeconomic status
The average family income of immigrant students is well below that of students with US-born parents. The educational attainment of immigrant parents is also lower than that of native-born parents. Immigrant parents are less involved in school activities and are contacted more often due to their child's learning problems. Their children are also more likely to be enrolled in charter schools and less likely in private schools. All these factors can contribute to the lower academic achievement of immigrant students.
However, despite these challenges, most children of immigrant parents are doing well in school. They are just as likely to get good grades as children of native-born parents. The proportion of students earning "mostly A" grades was 51% among students with immigrant parents and 48% among those with native-born parents. Immigrant students are also less likely to be diagnosed with a psychological or physical disability, enjoy school more, and are less likely to be suspended or expelled.
The academic achievement of immigrant students is influenced by their parents' pre- and post-migration characteristics and the home environment. Parents' pre-migration education and post-migration employment are strongly associated with their children's academic achievement. The expectations linked to the migration project of families also impact the expectations of academic achievement and performance of their children.
To support the educational inclusion of immigrant students, guidance and counselling can be provided to address trauma, displacement, and transitional readjustment. Additionally, schools should understand the cultural context and its impact on academic success. By addressing these issues, schools can improve access options, relationships, participation, and the success of immigrant students.
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The effect of culture shock and acculturative stress
Culture shock and acculturative stress are distinct but interconnected concepts that can affect the mental health and well-being of immigrant youth, including university students with immigrant parents. Acculturative stress refers to the negative psychological experience resulting from the complexities of acculturating and living a bicultural life. It is not the same as general life stress but is brought on by specific stressors related to acculturation and assimilation. These stressors include difficulties in assimilating the beliefs, values, and norms of the dominant culture, as well as language barriers. Acculturative stress can lead to negative emotional states such as distress and worry, anxiety, depression, grief, and loss.
The impact of acculturative stress on mental health has been observed in various immigrant groups, including Latino/a and Asian Americans. Studies have found that acculturative stress is a strong predictor of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among Latino/a immigrants. Parent-child acculturation gaps, where children and youth navigate the new culture through daily experiences in schools, can amplify stress and lead to conflicts, poor adjustment, and overall mental health issues. Language proficiency, cultural competency, and greater time in the settlement country have been identified as factors that can mitigate acculturative stress among immigrant youth.
Culture shock, on the other hand, refers to the stressful life event of encountering a new culture, which can occur during the initial stages of immigration. It is a broad concept that encompasses the disorientation and confusion experienced when adjusting to unfamiliar cultural norms, values, and behaviors. While culture shock is a common experience for individuals relocating to a new cultural environment, it is not limited to immigration and can also affect individuals travelling or studying abroad for extended periods.
The effects of culture shock can be mitigated by providing support and resources to help individuals navigate the cultural transition. This includes guidance and counselling services that address trauma, displacement, and transitional readjustment. Additionally, cultural sensitivity training and education can help individuals understand and adapt to the new cultural context, reducing the impact of culture shock.
In the context of university students with immigrant parents, culture shock may be experienced during their own travels or studies abroad. It can also indirectly impact their lives as they witness and support their parents' cultural transition. While the immediate effects of culture shock may fade over time, the long-term effects of acculturative stress can persist, especially if there are ongoing demands of bicultural integration and identity.
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The adjustment to the cultural and educational reality of the host country
The transition to a new cultural and educational environment in the host country can be challenging for children of immigrant parents. They may experience a ""culture shock"" or "acculturative stress", which can impact their academic success. To facilitate the adjustment process, it is crucial to identify strategies that address the specific needs of this student population.
One key factor in the adjustment process is the involvement of immigrant parents in their children's education. Research suggests that parental engagement and social capital are essential for the educational growth of students from immigrant families. Immigrant parents' pre-migration education and post-migration employment have been found to significantly influence their children's academic achievement. However, socioeconomic factors, such as lower family income and the need for parents to spend more time working, can create challenges for parental involvement.
To support the adjustment of university students with immigrant parents, guidance and counselling services can play a crucial role. These services can help address issues related to trauma, displacement, and transitional adjustments. Additionally, universities can promote the inclusion of immigrant students by fostering cultural understanding and providing resources to navigate the new educational context.
The educational inclusion of students with immigrant parents extends beyond academic achievement. It involves their overall well-being, participation, and relationship-building within the host country's cultural and educational landscape. By addressing these aspects, universities can enhance the adjustment process and create a more inclusive environment for students from diverse backgrounds.
Furthermore, it is important to recognize the resilience and strengths that students with immigrant parents bring to the host country's educational context. Many of these students have demonstrated adaptability and a strong work ethic, contributing to their academic success. Understanding and valuing their unique perspectives and experiences can enrich the host country's educational environment and foster a more diverse and inclusive learning community.
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Frequently asked questions
Immigrant students and children of immigrants make up a large and growing share of students enrolled in colleges and universities. In 2018, nearly 30% of all students enrolled in US colleges and universities had immigrant backgrounds, up from 20% in 2000.
The academic performance of students with immigrant parents is influenced by various factors, including family income, parental education, and social capital. Students from immigrant families may face challenges due to lower socioeconomic status and lower parental involvement in school activities. However, they often have higher educational expectations set by their parents, which can contribute to their academic success.
Contact with a new culture can be stressful and lead to "culture shock" or "acculturative stress," impacting a student's opportunities for academic success. Guidance and counselling services can help address trauma, displacement, and transitional readjustment, promoting self-sufficiency and better well-being.
