immigrant adolescents

We pay a lot of attention of how immigrants are having difficulties of finding their career and disadvantages due to social inequalities that we have in Canada. But immigrant adolescents have issues of integration to Canadian society too...

Most teenagers are moving to Canada with their immigrant parents. But perceptions of immigration of the children and parent are totally different. Maybe parents view immigration as an opportunity for better future. But for teenagers, it could be departure from friends in homeland. In most cases they immigrant to Canada because of their parents, no matter if they want to or not(Qin, 2008).

We might have a misconception like they will face fewer problems because they will get educated in Canadian High School, they will integrate into Canadian culture quicker than their parents, and they will learn English quicker. but according to this article, some immigrants adolescents' relationship between their parents are not as close as when they were back home because the problems are immigrant parents face(employment, financial stresses, working at low pay jobs) result for parents spending less time with their children(Michael, 2009) . This interview for a girl who immigrant from Hong Kong said that: 

 “Now I don’t want to go home....Before, when we were in Hong Kong, sometimes we sat down and talked. It happened more often in Hong Kong than in here. [Here in the U.S.] we have to work. Even if we have time to talk, I mostly stay in my room. When I get home I stay in my room to play with the computer, listen to the music, sleep, whatever. I just can't communicate with my parents (sigh). I don't know what to say.”(Michael, 2009)

Parents working long hours cause alienation between their children, another study also reveal that 55% of the Chinese parents and 35% of students report that they have relationship issues with their parents and children at home(Qin, 2008) . 

I think beside the problems that immigrant adults are facing right now, social worker should pay attention to the consequence of immigrant families dynamics that cause by immigrants parents having hard time to find their career and such. It’s because immigrant adolescents are like other children who born and raised in Canada, they are the future of the country. Having a good relationship with their families can improve child’s well-being. And family support is very important for some immigrants, if they have some issues with their child, I personally think they will get more frustration and depression while they are facing other difficulties. I think social worker can help immigrant families to repair their relationship, then they can overcome the relationship problem and focus on other problems that the Canadian society has give them. 

In my opinion, family support is very important when family member are facing difficulties.

Sarah

Reference:
Michael, S. (2009). Continuities and discontinuities: patterns of migration, adolescent immigrant girls and their family relationships. Qualitative Social Work, 8(2), 229-247.

Qin, D. B. (2008). Gendered processes of adaptation: understanding parent–child relations in Chinese immigrant families . Sex Roles, 60(7/8), 467-481.