Adaptation Processes among Young Immigrants: An Integrative Review

ABSTRACT

The population of children and teenagers who are either immigrants themselves or children of immigrants has been rapidly increasing in recent years. Young immigrants have a significant impact on the social and cultural makeup of many American communities, and on the education system in particular. In light of this, this paper provides a review of studies that were conducted on the adaptation processes among this new “second generation youth.” Studies are classified into those that examined the issues of young immigrants' adaptation from the psychological/social-psychological and sociological perspectives. Subsequently, theoretical research on adolescent immigrants' adaptation is reviewed.

KEYWORDS:

• Immigration
• adaptation
• children
• youth