Perceived Discrimination and the Well-Being of Immigrant Adolescents

• NCJ Number: 222729
• Journal: Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 37 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2008 Pages: 592-604
• Author(s): Gustavo S. Mesch; Hagit Turjeman; Gideon Fishman
• Date Published: May 2008
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the effect of perceived discrimination on immigrant youths' depressive moods, self-efficacy, and preferences for in-group socialization experiences.

Abstract

The findings indicated that being constantly exposed to differential treatment increased feelings of sadness reported by the respondents, but also decreased their sense of mastery over their own lives. The findings expanded the understanding of the detrimental effects of unfair treatment of immigrants belonging to a group characterized by relatively high level skills in the labor market, such as the immigrants from the former Soviet Union to Israel. Furthermore, the negative effect of school discrimination on self-efficacy suggests that perceived discrimination in school can adversely affect school achievements. This study distinguishes between perceived discrimination in public settings and at school because they represent different relevant contacts for immigrant adolescence. Being treated differently in government offices, shops, or cafes may be a less damaging experience because these youths do not have frequent encounters with these settings and are therefore not subject to daily negative reactions. Being treated differently in school by teachers and school mates is a daily experience, which might have enduring effects on one's social integration and school achievements. The finding that differential treatment by teachers and peers in school has detrimental effects on well-being calls for the development and implementation of policies and intervention in schools to reduce the negative immigrant stereotypes and for training of teachers in cultural sensitivity and pluralistic approaches to immigrant adolescents. These policies should be based on the assumption that although the perceived discrimination is detrimental to well-being, the desire for social integration is not affected by this behavior. Data were collected from immigrants from the former Soviet Union, a group that accounts for 20 percent of Israel's population. A face-to-face survey was conducted among 1,420 adolescents, aged 12 to 18, who immigrated from the former Soviet Union to Israel in the preceding 6 years. Tables, references