What is causing the immigrant paradox?

[Raze]

First generation immigrant children have many disadvantages to native born citizens in the USA, such as speaking English as a second language, less stable financial situations, living in troubled neighborhoods, and a cultural shock, however scientific evidence now finds that despite this they show substantially better outcomes than native born children. This is known as “the immigrant paradox” by scholars. 

This was not always the case, in fact it was once the opposite. In the 60’s, the evidence showed immigrant children did worse in various measures than native children, and improved if they assimilated. Source

Some examples:

U.S.-born Latino subjects reported higher rates for most psychiatric disorders than Latino immigrants. Source

foreign-born Latinos report lower rates of childhood anxiety than US born Latino’s and whites. Source

Immigrants who lived in the United States for less than 13 years had lower rates of mental disorders and substance abuse than did those who lived in the United States for more than 13.

First-generation respondents (Asian American adults) had lower lifetime and 12-month rates of any disorder than second- and third-generation peers (who had similar rates). Moreover, first-generation women had lower lifetime rates of substance-abuse disorders than second- and third-generation peers— and lower 12-month rates of depressive, anxiety, and any psychiatric disorders than second-generation peers. With regard to nativity status: foreign-born men had lower lifetime rates of substance-abuse disorder (in their lifetime), and foreign-born women had lower lifetime rates of any disorder (depressive, anxiety, substance-abuse, psychiatric disorder and lower 12-month rates of anxiety disorder) than U.S.-born counterparts. With regard to age at immigration: those (men and women) who arrived as children (12 years and younger) had a lifetime rate of any disorder similar to that in U.S.-born peers. Conversely, women who arrived as adults were less likely to have a depressive, anxiety, substance, or psychiatric disorder— and men who arrived as young adults (ages 18–34) were less likely to have substance-abuse, or psychiatric disorders (in their lifetime, than U.S.-born peers). Source

 U.S.-born Latino teens exhibit higher rates of alcohol use compared with their foreign-born counterparts. Source

Immigrant youth are less delinquent than native-born adolescents, later generations of immigrant youth are often more delinquent. Source

First generation immigrants are less likely to have engaged in delinquent behavior than native born whites in the USA. Source

Acculturation and United States nativity are risk factors for illicit drug use among Mexican origin men and women. However, women have increased vulnerability compared with men. Source.

Length of residence in the United States appears to be associated with declining academic achievement and aspirations. Source.

 Children of immigrants have better academic outcomes. Source

[hoodrow trillson]

I'm going to guess the school system + capitalism.

[Raze]

On 3/15/2023 at 1:14 PM, hoodrow trillson said:

I'm going to guess the school system + capitalism.

How is this causing it?

[Raze]

Bump

[Micca]

They will try harder in another country to prove themselves. This has been happening for decades.

Moving from a poorer country to a wealthy nation will make you appreciate your opportunity more and then make you work harder.

 

 

 

[mr_engineer]

They get to go to first-world countries cuz they're the best in their countries and they're not happy with the opportunities in their existing environment. 

This is not about specific cultures being better than the first-world countries per se, the way some natives think. It's moreso the design of the way immigration is conducted by first-world countries. 

If you look at the home-countries of those immigrants, there will be hordes of people who are not doing so well. So, it's got nothing to do with the culture and everything to do with cherry-picking the best from other cultures. 

[Danioover9000]

@Raze

On 3/15/2023 at 6:45 PM, Raze said:

First generation immigrant children have many disadvantages to native born citizens in the USA, such as speaking English as a second language, less stable financial situations, living in troubled neighborhoods, and a cultural shock, however scientific evidence now finds that despite this they show substantially better outcomes than native born children. This is known as “the immigrant paradox” by scholars. 

This was not always the case, in fact it was once the opposite. In the 60’s, the evidence showed immigrant children did worse in various measures than native children, and improved if they assimilated. Source

Some examples:

U.S.-born Latino subjects reported higher rates for most psychiatric disorders than Latino immigrants. Source

foreign-born Latinos report lower rates of childhood anxiety than US born Latino’s and whites. Source

Immigrants who lived in the United States for less than 13 years had lower rates of mental disorders and substance abuse than did those who lived in the United States for more than 13.

First-generation respondents (Asian American adults) had lower lifetime and 12-month rates of any disorder than second- and third-generation peers (who had similar rates). Moreover, first-generation women had lower lifetime rates of substance-abuse disorders than second- and third-generation peers— and lower 12-month rates of depressive, anxiety, and any psychiatric disorders than second-generation peers. With regard to nativity status: foreign-born men had lower lifetime rates of substance-abuse disorder (in their lifetime), and foreign-born women had lower lifetime rates of any disorder (depressive, anxiety, substance-abuse, psychiatric disorder and lower 12-month rates of anxiety disorder) than U.S.-born counterparts. With regard to age at immigration: those (men and women) who arrived as children (12 years and younger) had a lifetime rate of any disorder similar to that in U.S.-born peers. Conversely, women who arrived as adults were less likely to have a depressive, anxiety, substance, or psychiatric disorder— and men who arrived as young adults (ages 18–34) were less likely to have substance-abuse, or psychiatric disorders (in their lifetime, than U.S.-born peers). Source

 U.S.-born Latino teens exhibit higher rates of alcohol use compared with their foreign-born counterparts. Source

Immigrant youth are less delinquent than native-born adolescents, later generations of immigrant youth are often more delinquent. Source

First generation immigrants are less likely to have engaged in delinquent behavior than native born whites in the USA. Source

Acculturation and United States nativity are risk factors for illicit drug use among Mexican origin men and women. However, women have increased vulnerability compared with men. Source.

Length of residence in the United States appears to be associated with declining academic achievement and aspirations. Source.

 Children of immigrants have better academic outcomes. Source

   Mainly to live in better countries. Immigrants are, based on differences with Spiral Dynamics stages of development, cognitive and moral development, personality types, ego development, states of consciousness, life experiences and other lines of development, and ideological upbringing, are mostly, compared to 1st world democracies, live in 3rd world authoritarian regimes and generally less developed societies which over time gets harder, so they chose to migrate to another better environment that fits their needs for themselves and their children.

[TheAlchemist]

Largely it has to do with US immigration policy, that's my guess. The average immigrant seems to be higher educated than the average American. These days the americans don't take in many immigrants on humanitarian grounds when comparing to other western democracies, and in general they have a very strict filter on who is allowed in. 

Edited March 31, 2023 by TheAlchemist