Calls to enhance the health of migrant population sub-groups are strengthening, with increasing evidence documenting the relationship between migration and health outcomes. Despite the importance of migration to global health promotion, little research has focused on the health experiences of young migrants. As part of a Worldwide University Network project, we completed four systematic reviews examining the existing evidence base on the health experiences of children and young people who migrate. In this commentary, we share commonalities with the international evidence but also reflect on some of the challenges, omissions and limitations. These insights expose significant gaps and methodological shortcomings in the evidence – providing space for new research that seeks to identify the influences on migrant children’s health.
CastanedaHHolmesSMadrigalDde Trinidad YoungMBeyelerNQuesadaJ. Immigration as a social determinant of health. Annu Rev Public Health. 2015; 18: 375-392.
5.
HamiltonTG. The healthy immigrant (migrant) effect: in search of a better native-born comparison group. Soc Sci Res. 2015; 54: 353-365.
6.
RentonZHamblinEClementsK. Delivering the Healthy Child Programme for Young Refugee and Migrant Children. London: National Children’s Bureau; 2016.
SimeD. Migrant children and young people’s ‘voice’ in healthcare. In: ThomasF (ed.) Handbook of Migration and Health. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd; 2016.
9.
UN General Assembly. Convention on the Rights of the Child. United Nations, Treaty Series. 1989; 1577.
10.
CurtisPThompsonJFairbrotherH. Migrant children within Europe: a systematic review of children’s perspectives on their health experiences. Public Health. 2018; 158: 71-85.
11.
HongQNPluyePFàbreguesSBartlettGBoardmanFCargoM, et al. Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT), Version 2018. Gatineau: Canadian Intellectual Property Office; 2018.
12.
VathiZDuciV. Making other dreams: the impact of migration on the psychosocial wellbeing of Albanian-origin children and young people upon their families’ return to Albania. Childhood. 2016; 23: 53-68.
13.
FairbrotherHCurtisPGoyderE. Making health information meaningful: children’s health literacy practices. SSM Popul Health. 2016; 2: 476-484.
14.
BradyGLowePLauritzenSO. Children, Health and Well-Being: Policy Debates and lived Experience. New York: John Wiley & Sons;2015.
15.
HodesMJagdevDChandraNCunniffA. Risk and resilience for psychological distress amongst unaccompanied asylum seeking adolescents. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2008; 49: 723-732.
16.
HarozEEMurrayLKBoltonPBetancourtTBassJK. Adolescent resilience in Northern Uganda: the role of social support and prosocial behavior in reducing mental health problems. J Res Adolesc. 2013; 23: 138-148.
17.
PerreiraKMOrnelasI. Painful passages: traumatic experiences and post-traumatic stress among immigrant Latino adolescents and their primary caregivers. Int Migr Rev. 2013; 4: 976-1005.
18.
Sotomayor-PetersonMMontiel-CarbajalM. Psychological and family well-being of unaccompanied Mexican child migrants sent back from the U.S. border region of Sonora-Arizona. Hisp J Behav Sci. 2014; 36: 111-123.
19.
SmokowskiPRChapmanMVBacallaoML. Acculturation risk and protective factors and mental health symptoms in immigrant Latino adolescents. J Hum Behav Soc Environ. 2007; 16: 33-55.
20.
Correa-VelezIGiffordSMBarnettAG. Longing to belong: social inclusion and wellbeing among youth with refugee backgrounds in the first three years in Melbourne, Australia. Soc Sci Med. 2010; 71: 1399-1408.
21.
SampsonRGiffordSM. Place-making, settlement and well-being: the therapeutic landscapes of recently arrived youth with refugee backgrounds. Health Place. 2010; 16: 116-131.
22.
AntonovskyA. The salutogenic model as a theory to guide health promotion. Health Promot Int. 1996; 11: 11-18.
23.
GormanBKNovoaCKimbroRT. Migration decisions, acculturation, and overweight among Asian and Latino immigrant adults in the United States. Int Migrat Rev. 2016; 50: 728-757.
24.
AbubakarAvan de VijverFJRMazruiLMurugamiMArasaJ. Connectedness and psychological well-being among adolescents of immigrant background in Kenya. In: DimitrovaRBenderMvan de VijverF (eds). Global Perspectives on Well-Being in Immigrant Families. New York: Springer; 2014, pp. 95-111.
25.
Esteban-GonzaloLVeigaÓLRegidorEMartínezDMarcosACalleME. Immigrant status, acculturation and risk of overweight and obesity in adolescents living in Madrid (Spain): the AFINOS study. J Immigr Minor Health. 2015; 17: 367-374.
