Immigrant Youth in Canadian Health Promoting Schools: A Literature Review

Abstract

In this essay, we review empirical, theoretical, and substantial grey literature in relation to immigrant youth and health promoting schools (HPS). We examine the health promotion concept to consider how it may inform the HPS model. Using Canada as an example, we examine current immigrant youth demographics and define several key terms including immigrant, youth, and health. Our review highlights important knowledge gaps related to the role of education and migration as antecedents to immigrant youth health and wellbeing as well as qualitative and educational research approaches. We conclude by providing recommendations for future immigrant youth research in the context of HPS.

School-Based Interventions for Migrant Students in the Framework of the Health Promoting Whole-School Approach: An Umbrella Review

“…As a result, health equity is one of the major issues related with immigrant youth [5], and migrant students in most countries tend to have lower education outcomes than their native peers. Markedly, obstacles that hinder migrant students' school results go beyond the linguistic proficiency gap [6][7][8], and their academic achievements continue to lag behind those of non-migrant children.…”

“…Although the potential of this approach is recognized, there is a lack of empirical knowledge on the impact of the HPS approach on immigrant school populations [5]. In light of this, there is a need for further research on how the Health Promoting School model can impact and be adapted to benefit immigrant students and their families effectively.…”

African immigrant students’ participation in Canadian health-promoting schools

“…This study targeted a relatively small population since Atlantic Canada has few African immigrant young people (Nyika et al, 2017), who together represent one cultural group among many participating in Nova Scotia schools. Study participants comprised 15 secondary school students of colour, aged 12–21 years, who identified as African and had migrated to Canada within the last 10 years from countries in Africa and the Caribbean region.…”

“…Even as effective school health programming correlates with genuinely engaging students in relation to their sociocultural context (de Róiste et al, 2012; Griebler et al, 2017; Simovska and Carlsson, 2012), the school health understandings of immigrant children and youth appear to be poorly understood. Moreover, there is a dearth of empirical research on the impact of HPS on immigrant school populations in Canada and, particularly, in Nova Scotia (Nyika et al, 2017). This knowledge gap was addressed by this study of African immigrant students’ perceptions of involvement in HPS, the goal being to understand how the students imagined, felt and thought about themselves in relation to health-related programmes and education from their perspective as Nova Scotia school stakeholders.…”

“…The research question explored was as follows: how do African immigrant secondary school students perceive their participation in HPS in Nova Scotia? This article reports on a study whose methodology has been published (Nyika and Murray-Orr, 2017) together with a literature review (Nyika et al, 2017). As an African health and education professional, I had considerable interest in the health and well-being of immigrant students of African descent who were participating in HPS in Nova Scotia.…”