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Abstract
Attempts were made to compare the mental health status of immigrant and local youth in Hong Kong and to examine the effects of social competence on the mental health of immigrant and local youth. Data on 104 local and 106 immigrant youth, which were collected through a structured questionnaire, were analyzed. Contrary to our hypothesis, immigrant youth had better mental health than local youth. While local youth generally had a higher level of social competence than immigrant youth, it did not produce positive effects on the mental health of local youth. Immigrant youth, who had a higher level of social competence in terms of self-control, empathy, assertiveness and the ability to read social cues, had better mental health. Personal and socio-cultural reasons were put forward to explain the findings. Theoretical, practice, policy and research implications were discussed.