This book examines integrative knowledge of multiple fields of content in the domain of immigration and its implications for the individual and his family. The outline of this book reflects the process under discussion: it is based on the immigrants' sample used in the doctoral thesis of Gila and represents the psychological responses of immigrants to the experience of immigration and its relation to different stress factors. The main work refers to relative evaluations that by themselves constitute a stress factor affecting psychological outcomes.

Immigrant children and youth are the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population, and so their prospects bear heavily on the well-being of the country. Children of Immigrants represents some of the very best and most extensive research efforts to date on the circumstances, health, and development of children in immigrant families and the delivery of health and social services to these children and their families. This book presents new, detailed analyses of more than a dozen existing datasets that constitute a large share of the national system for monitoring the health and well-being of the U.S. population. Prior to these new analyses, few of these datasets had been used to assess the circumstances of children in immigrant families. The analyses enormously expand the available knowledge about the physical and mental health status and risk behaviors, educational experiences and outcomes, and socioeconomic and demographic circumstances of first- and second-generation immigrant children, compared with children with U.S.-born parents.

The adjustment of immigrants has been an important area of research over the past few decades. The current literature on immigrants' psychological adjustment typically focuses on identifying specific contextual, interpersonal, and intrapersonal risks that contribute to negative adjustment. However, the mechanisms through which maladjustment occurs are less well-understood. In addition, less research has focused on understanding immigrants' hopes, aspirations, and expectations for themselves and the extent to which they are meeting these ideals. According to existing literature on psychological incongruence, failure to fulfill one's ideals can trigger dejection-related feelings, such as shame, and these feelings are closely connected with negative psychological adjustment. In collectivistic cultures such as the Chinese culture, where much of an individual's identity is dependent on close relationships, incongruence can be conceptualized both within an individual (e.g., I failed to achieve my ideals) and in relation to one's significant other (e.g., My child failed to achieve my ideals for him/her). Informed by theories of psychological incongruence, this dissertation aimed to study Chinese immigrant parents' psychological adjustment, focusing on incongruence in two broad domains: 1) occupational and educational achievement; and 2) cultural adjustment, as well as incongruence within oneself and in relation to one's child. The general hypothesis was that incongruence between ideal and actual functioning across the domains studied would predict a decrease in psychological adjustment over time, as represented by lower self-esteem and higher depressive symptoms. Participants were 182 Chinese immigrant families (mothers, fathers, and adolescent-aged children) residing in British Columbia, assessed twice with 18 months apart. A combination of polynomial regression with response surface analysis and linear multiple regression methods were used to evaluate the extent to which the direction and magnitude of congruence and incongruence between ideal and actual functioning predicted change in parents' psychological adjustment over time. Results provided partial support for the hypothesized relations, particularly within the domains of Chinese parents' own Canadian acculturation and their children's academic functioning. Support was also found within the domain of parents' own occupational functioning, but this was the case only for mothers. The hypothesized relations within the domain of children's Chinese cultural orientation were generally not supported. Overall, the results highlight the importance of understanding immigrant adults' adjustment process using a goodness-of-fit, family-oriented approach. Clinicians and settlement workers are encouraged to consider cultural and personal ideals when supporting immigrants in their adjustment process, as well as fostering successful coping with the incongruence that can arise in parent-child dyads. Finally, immigration policies should continue to address structural barriers that prevent immigrants from achieving their ideals, such as in the domain of employment.

A Depth Psychology Study of Immigration and Adaptation: The Migrant’s Journey brings current academic research from a range of disciplines into a 12-stage model of human migration. Based on Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey, this depth psychology model addresses pre-migration reasons for leaving, the ordeals of the journey and challenges of post-migration adaptation. One-third of migrants return to homelands while those who remain in newlands face the triple challenges of building a new life, a new identity and sense of belonging. While arrivées carry homelands within, their children, the second generation, born and raised in the newland usually have access to both cultures which enables them to make unique contributions to society. Vital to successful newland adaptation is the acceptance and support of immigrants by host countries. A Depth Psychology Study of Immigration and Adaptation will be an important resource for academics and students in the social sciences, clinical psychologists, health care and social welfare workers, therapists of all backgrounds, policy makers and immigrants themselves seeking an understanding of the inner experiences of migration.

Psychosocial Experiences and Adjustment of Migrants: Coming to the USA explores the emotional experiences of migrants seeking to come to America, including psychological sequelae of such relocation from one’s home country to another country. This book is divided into three main parts. The first introduces the reader to the foundational principles of migration. Next, the chapter authors review individuals and families who come to the United States through "orderly" migration, profiling the experiences of immigrants from various countries and regions. The next set of chapters discuss "forced" migration, examining the relative impact of social and legal challenges and the psychological impact. The book wraps up with research, advocacy and mental health and social services options for migrants. Spotlights mental health and psychosocial experiences of migrants, as well as refugees and asylum seekers Provides greater depth about migratory patterns to the United States and the various complexities Examines psychological adjustments in the presence of trenchant sociocultural change, cultural conflict and family dislocation Discusses individual experiences and clinical case examples of migration to the USA through orderly and forced migration Profiles experiences of immigrants from various countries and regions such as Mexico, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, etc. Presents migration in the context of diverse stakeholders, including government, international agencies, civil society and even students

Human migration is a global phenomenon and is on the increase. It occurs as a result of 'push' factors (asylum, natural disaster), or as a result of 'pull' factors (seeking economic or educational improvement). Whatever the cause of the relocation, the outcome requires individuals to adjust to their new surroundings and cope with the stresses involved, and as a result, there is considerable potential for disruption to mental health. This volume explores all aspects of migration, on all scales, and its effect on mental health. It covers migration in the widest sense and does not limit itself to refugee studies. It covers issues specific to the elderly and the young, as well as providing practical tips for clinicians on how to improve their own cultural competence in the work setting. The book will be of interest to all mental health professionals and those involved in establishing health and social policy.