Cumulative Risk and Immigrant Youth’s Health and Educational Achievement: Mediating Effects of Inter- and Intra-Familial Social Capital

Abstract

Using data from Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study, this study examined the longitudinal effects of cumulative risk of immigrant parents on immigrant youth’s health and educational achievement in young adulthood. The mediating effects of intra- (i.e., family cohesion) and inter-familial (i.e., parental school involvement) social capital were also examined. The findings showed that cumulative risk was negatively associated with youth’s health and educational achievement in young adulthood. In addition, parental school involvement mediated the association between cumulative risk and youth’s health and educational achievement. The findings suggest that inter-familial social connections may be a critical intervention target for immigrant youth preventive interventions.

Keywords

cumulative risk social capital immigrant youth health education

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