Protective Factors of Family Life for Immigrant Youth

The purpose of the study was to identify the positive aspects and strengths experienced by newcomer youth within their home environments. Youth between the ages of 15 and 18 years old who immigrated within the previous 2 years and were living in a medium-sized Canadian city were interviewed. Group interviews were conducted with participants at a local community centre. Analysis of the data was completed using concept mapping (Trochim, 1989) which included multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis. Similar to the literature, results indicated that newcomer youth felt secure and experienced positive familial connections. Youth viewed their families as a source of support, while also acknowledging their need for autonomy. Differences between study results and the literature were found in relation to family rules and integration with Canadian culture. Implications of the findings are discussed within a counseling framework for mental health practitioners to better understand the protective resources of resilience available to newcomer youth.