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Publication #FAR5046

 

Immigrant Family Strengths1

Suzanna Smith2

Figure 1. 
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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about one in five children was an immigrant or had at least one immigrant parent (Fields, 2003; Hernandez, 2004; Shields & Behrman, 2004). While these newcomer children and their families face numerous challenges, they also have many strengths (Shields & Behrman, 2004; Usita & Blieszner, 2002). In fact, in some ways children of immigrant parents are better off than U.S.-born children.

In some ways, immigrant children tend to be healthier than U.S.-born children. Babies born to immigrant mothers are less likely to be born with a low birthweight and less likely to die in the first year of life than babies born to native mothers (Hernandez, 2004).

Immigrant children are also more likely to live with two parents, and they are twice as likely to live with other relatives. Living with two parents or an extended family group can also provide a child with needed income, housing, and other supports (Bush, Bohon, & Kim, 2004; Usita & Bliesner, 2002).

Finally, immigrant children have high educational goals. They tend to spend more time doing homework and do better in school, at least through middle school. They are also less likely to be involved in substance abuse, early sexual intercourse, delinquency, and violence (Shields & Behrman, 2004).

Researchers caution that some immigrant families face more hardships than others. Children and families from parts of Latin America, Indochina, and the non-English speaking Caribbean often face tremendous difficulties. Poverty, language barriers, parents' lower educational levels, refugee status, and discrimination put children at risk. However, researchers suggest that policies and programs that assist these children can help them reach their potential as productive adults and nurturing parents (Shields & Behrman, 2004; Hernandez, 2004).

Listening, learning, and living together: it's the science of life. "Family Album" is a co-production of University of Florida IFAS Extension, the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, and of WUFT-FM. If you'd like to learn more, please visit our website at http://www.familyalbumradio.org.

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References

Fields, J. (2003). Children's living arrangements and characteristics: March 2002 [Electronic version]. Washington, DC: U. S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 20, 2006, from http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/p20-547.pdf.

Hernandez, D. J. (2004). Demographic change and the life circumstances of immigrant families. The Future of Children, 14(2) (Special issue, Children of Immigrant Families), 17-48.

Shields, M. K., & Behrman, R. E. (2004). Children of immigrant families: Analysis and recommendations. The Future of Children, 14(2) (Special issue, Children of Immigrant Families), 4-16.

Usita, P. M., & Blieszner, R. (2002). Immigrant family strengths. Journal of Family Issues, 23, 266-286.

Footnotes

1.

This document is FAR5046, one of a series of the Family Youth and Community Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Broadcast as program 460. Published February 2009. Reviewed March 2012. In the interest of time and/or clarity, the broadcast version of this script may have been modified. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Suzanna Smith, associate professor, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.