Children of Immigrants' Behavioral Trajectories and Family Processes: Using an Integrative Developmental Model

Using an integrative developmental model, this study revisited the "immigrant paradox" in early behavioral development, differentiating immigrant background from race and examining the role of family processes (family structure, stability, racial/ethnic socialization) in disparities between immigrant and U.S.-origin children. Growth-curve analyses on a sample of children aged 5-7 (N = 12,520) from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten class of 2010-2011 data set revealed distinct behavioral trajectories based on parental country of origin. Some groups outperformed the racially matched U.S.-origin peers by improving faster (internalizing behaviors: Salvadoran) or maintaining their advantages (internalizing: Mexican, Dominican; externalizing: Mexican, Salvadoran, Guatemalan, South American, and Dominican), while others faced continued challenges (externalizing behaviors: Japanese, Thai) or exhibited a nuanced pattern such as beginning with an advantage but deteriorating faster (internalizing: Cuban). The time-varying, country-of-origin-specific family processes fully or partly explained some disparities (except for Asian), emphasizing the need for a sociocultural understanding of the distinct strengths and limitations in racial-ethnic minority families. This contextualized knowledge is crucial for promoting healthy child development.