Modifiable parental factors associated with the mental health of youth from immigrant families in high-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Parental factors play a major role in youth mental health and many youth in high-income countries have at least one overseas-born parent. It is, hence, important to understand how immigrant parenting is associated with youth mental health in high-income countries. Following PRISMA guidelines, this review sought to identify modifiable parental factors to inform parenting interventions to prevent mental health problems in youth aged 0–18 years whose parents migrated voluntarily for economic reasons from low and middle-income countries to high-income countries.

Sixteen parental factors were identified from 56 studies that were associated with five outcomes – youth self-esteem (k = 17), general stress (k = 4), acculturative stress (k = 4), anxiety symptoms (k = 9), and depressive symptoms (k = 41). A sound evidence base was found for one or more of these outcomes associated with protective factors – caring and supportive parenting and parental monitoring; and risk factors – parent-youth acculturative and general conflict, parental withdrawal, interparental conflict, and parent mental health problems.

This systematic review and meta-analysis identified immigrant parental factors that have robust associations with youth mental health outcomes. These findings can be used to inform parenting interventions and support immigrant parents in preventing youth mental health problems.