This thesis describes three studies that examined the experiences of foreign-born families staying in the emergency shelter system in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. In the first study, timeline mapping and qualitative interviews were conducted with 13 Canadian-born and 23 foreign-born homeless families to understand the needs of these families and their pathways into homelessness. In the second study, data were drawn from quantitative interviews with 75 heads of families who were experiencing homelessness in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. This cross-sectional study examined differences in mental and physical health, chronic medical conditions, access to care, unmet healthcare needs, and diagnoses of mental disorders between foreign-born and Canadian-born families. In the third study, in-depth interviews were used to explore the shelter experiences of 16 foreign-born adolescents and young adults (aged 16-21) who were residing in emergency shelters with their families. Overall, findings from the three studies indicated that foreign-born families faced unique challenges before and during their homelessness. Moreover, some of these challenges were associated with adjusting to life in Canada. Challenges, such as staying housed and financially stable were common and led families to require shelter services. However, foreign-born families also reported positive experiences that may buffer some of the negative impacts associated with immigrating to a new country, housing instability, and homelessness. In the first study, more heterogeneity was found in the homeless pathways reported by foreign-born families than by Canadian-born families. The experiences they had prior to homelessness were also different across themes of poverty, health and substance use, interpersonal challenges, victimization, traumatic experiences, and stressful life events. In the second study, foreign-born heads of families reported better mental health and fewer chronic medical conditions than did Canadian-born heads of families with a significantly lower proportion of foreign-born participants reporting having been diagnosed with a mental disorder. In the third study, youth described homeless shelters as stressful environments but also found that the shelters provided support to them and their families. Youth also discussed the various strategies they used to cope with the challenges of shelter life. Findings from the studies suggest that foreign-born families experiencing homelessness are a heterogeneous group with diverse needs and experiences who may require services that differ in type, duration, and intensity than those that may be required by Canadian-born families.

Thesis advisor: Usha Tummala-Narra / Despite the Asian Indian community being one of the fastest growing populations in the U.S., there continues to be a paucity of research available that examines the specific nuances of the acculturation process within this population, particularly with regards Asian Indian women in the immigrant context within the U.S. Guided by a socioecological framework (Bronfenbrenner, 1994), the aim of this present study was to examine how Asian Indian immigrant women, who migrated to the U.S. between 1966-1985, have engaged in the acculturative process and made sense of their ethnic and gender identity across time. Utilizing a qualitative descriptive methodology, 18 participants (ages 55 to 71 years) were interviewed via a semistructured format. Conventional content analysis was used to analyze the data collected in this investigation and revealed six broad domains related to participants’ experiences as Asian Indian immigrant women living in the U.S. These domains include following: 1) marriage and family; 2) working in the U.S; 3) experiences of gender; 4) challenges to acculturation; 5) cxperience of immigration over time; and 6) coping and resilience. The findings from this study illuminate the ways in which gender is restructured within the immigrant context, the immigrant experience transforms over time, and the psychological impact of the acculturative process among the Asian Indian immigrant women population. Important implications for culturally informed clinical practice and future research directions are discussed. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2018. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Counseling, Developmental and Educational Psychology.

Globally, it is estimated that 240 million people are infected with chronic viral hepatitis B and in excess of 185 million people with chronic hepatitis C. The burden of disease from hepatitis is concentrated in developing countries where transmission of HBV occurs predominantly from mother to child (vertical transmission) and transmission of HCV through unsafe medical procedures and the transfusion of unscreened blood products. Global patterns of migration favour the movement of individuals from countries with medium or high risk prevalence of chronic viral hepatitis to countries with traditionally low prevalence among their indigenous populations, including the United Kingdom (UK). In excess of 3.2% of the global population are international migrants, posing important implications for healthcare systems in host nations. It is predicted that up to 7 million first and second generation immigrants, originating from high prevalence countries for viral hepatitis now reside permanently in the UK. However, as a result of deficiencies in screening initiatives, the prevalence and associated burden of these diseases in these high-risk populations residing in the UK is yet to be determined. In order to establish the feasibility of inviting first and second generation immigrant populations to participate in viral hepatitis testing in primary care, as well to determine the prevalence and demography of viral hepatitis in four areas of the UK, a randomised controlled cross sectional cluster trial was conducted. In HepFree clinical computer systems in general practice surgeries were interrogated to identify the target population that was then approached using a variety of different invitations to determine the most appropriate method for engaging this population. The outcomes of viral hepatitis testing from practices in one area of the UK are described in this thesis. Despite multiple challenges encountered both in engaging practices and individuals in trial participation, results of this investigation suggest that if it is found to be cost effective, then viral hepatitis screening is feasible and the burden of disease in the UK is concentrated in first generation immigrants.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

The purpose of this narrative inquiry was to explore the lived experiences of college educated, immigrant women from the Caribbean in their quest for professional advancement in educational leadership roles in the United States. There were six participants for this study who were selected based on convenience, purposeful, and criterion sampling. Each participant’s lived experience was explored through a triangulation of information provided from two in-depth face-to-face interviews, document analyses, and observation/field notes. The findings indicate that Caribbean immigrant women studied navigated hills and valleys that included acculturative stress. Furthermore, the participants are characterized with a militant motivation in their approach to achieving their goals; thus having an attitude of “by any means necessary” was essential to their success. To accomplish their goals and successfully navigate the hills and valleys, the participants shared the support of strong matriarchs in their family and with the added help of the village; they also engaged in adult learning practices in their efforts to excel. Additionally, a Caribbean identity was utilized as a source of resistance and high self-esteem bordering on ethnocentrism against prejudices to facilitate the journey to success. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2019. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

The purpose of this study was to examine the relations between cultural values, social norms, and beliefs related to co-sleeping with the sleeping arrangements of first generation Chinese immigrants in Canada. The participants were 162 first generation Chinese immigrants from four Canadian cities who had children ranging from 2 months to 71 months (M = 37.9, SD = 18.06). Participants completed a questionnaire measuring their cultural values and beliefs, value of parenting roles and family, value of romantic relationships, and beliefs of sleeping arrangements. Parents indicated their sleeping arrangements (i.e. where child slept and with whom the child slept). Participants were also asked to draw a picture of their bedroom(s) which indicated the location of the childs and/or parents bed, and the distance between the two beds. Results indicated that 77% Chinese parents in this study co-slept with their pre-school aged child, whereas only 23% parents let their child sleep in their own bedroom. Among the co-sleepers, half of the children slept in their parents bed, and half of them slept in their own bed, which was either attached to the parents bed or separated from the parents bed. The mean distance between the parents bed and the childs bed was 21.15cm (SD = 42.74) for co-sleeping families, and 502.8 cm (SD = 188.69) for solitary sleeping families. Using stepwise regression analysis, the relations between demographic factor, space availability, values, norms, and beliefs, on the one hand, and sleeping arrangements, on the other, were examined. Personal beliefs about sleeping arrangements, including cultural beliefs of independence and interdependence, beliefs of marital quality, and beliefs of solitary sleeping, influence sleeping arrangements. Parents length of residency in Canada, childs age, and bedroom numbers also influence sleeping arrangements. The findings have important implications for researchers and health professionals in terms of sleeping arrangements in the larger socio-cultural context.

The large growing number of the population of the new immigrant women¡¦s children gives rise to the wide spread attention of the social and education researchers to their studying performance and life-adjustment. This study adopts content analysis method to analyze and sort the 101 studies of MA theses and PhD dissertations during 2001-2006. The purpose of this study is to understand the content of the past studies about the new immigrant women¡¦s children, including the trend, the object, the subject, the approach, the region and the result. Furthermore, standing on the conclusion, this study would give some suggestions to the governments and related organizations. There are several main conclusions and suggestions as follows: 1.Conclusions (1)The objects and the study approaches of these studies have more variety than before. (2)The number of the object of the studies about the new immigrant women¡¦s children and their parents is more than others. (3)The subject of the studies about life-adjustment of the new immigrant women¡¦s children¡¦s is more than others. (4)Conducting the quantification study approach is more favorable than other choices. (5)The number of the studies in south of Taiwan is a little more than the north of Taiwan and much more than other regions of Taiwan. (6)The conclusions of 101 studies are positive in terms of self-concept, life-adjustment and interpersonal relationship. However, these studies still don¡¦t have any final conclusion of studying performance and development of new immigrant women¡¦s children. 2.Suggestions (1)The government should advocate the concept of the multi-culture education more often. (2)School should set up the policy to revise the student number in each class. Teachers should establish the good communication network to promote the interaction between the teachers and the parents of new immigrant women¡¦s children positively. (3)In the future, the further studies would be expected to publish the object of the teachers, the comparative studies about foreign and Taiwanese students, and the study regions might focus on middle and eastern of Taiwan.

The present study explored the experiences of victimization and immigration among immigrant youth in the Peel region in Ontario, Canada. Victimization included the experiences of bullying and ethnic discrimination in the school environment. The study utilized a phenomenological approach to investigate how immigrant youth interpreted their experiences and whether they identified victimization as bullying, ethnic discrimination or both. The effects of victimization on adaptation and acculturation were also explored. Results from individual interviews of six youth (ages 16 or 17) indicated that immigrant youth viewed bullying and discrimination as separate constructs. Themes that emerged from the interviews included the importance of language proficiency; the role of peer affiliations; and factors associated with resiliency. It was evident through their descriptions that immigrant youth face unique challenges, which include adjusting to a new culture and country of residence, establishing a new social circle, and gaining comfort in utilizing the English language.

The present study explored the experiences of victimization and immigration among immigrant youth in the Peel region in Ontario, Canada. Victimization included the experiences of bullying and ethnic discrimination in the school environment. The study utilized a phenomenological approach to investigate how immigrant youth interpreted their experiences and whether they identified victimization as bullying, ethnic discrimination or both. The effects of victimization on adaptation and acculturation were also explored. Results from individual interviews of six youth (ages 16 or 17) indicated that immigrant youth viewed bullying and discrimination as separate constructs. Themes that emerged from the interviews included the importance of language proficiency; the role of peer affiliations; and factors associated with resiliency. It was evident through their descriptions that immigrant youth face unique challenges, which include adjusting to a new culture and country of residence, establishing a new social circle, and gaining comfort in utilizing the English language.

Le Canada est un des pays avec la plus grande entrée d'immigrants au monde. Le processus d'immigration et l'intégration des immigrants, conjointement avec des changements socio-économiques tels que les changements dans les conditions économiques et des politiques sociales et fiscales, influent significativement sur le développement de l'économie canadienne. Par conséquent, ces changements ensemble provoquent à leur tour des modifications dans l'emploi et l'allocation du temps de la population domestique et des immigrants. Ainsi, dans ce mémoire, nous examinons comment les immigrants au Canada utilisent leur temps ainsi qu'en quoi les immigrants diffèrent de la population locale concernant l'emploi du temps. L'analyse est basée sur des modèles économétriques dans le but d'estimer les déterminants de trois mesures d'emploi du temps, soit : 1) le temps moyen consacré à une activité donnée (moyenne inconditionnelle sur tous les individus), 2) le taux de participation à une activité et 3) le niveau d'intensité de participation (la moyenne conditionnelle à la participation). En contrôlant pour différents facteurs démographiques, l'analyse donne un aperçu des différences dans l'emploi du temps entre les immigrants et natifs ainsi qu'entre les femmes et les hommes et les personnes à divers niveaux d'éducation. Également, une partie de l'analyse est orientée vers l'intégration des immigrants dans la société canadienne en termes d'emploi du temps. Notamment, nous tentons de déterminer si cette forme d'assimilation des immigrants influe sur leurs salaires et leur participation au marché du travail. Dans ce mémoire nous utilisons les données des Enquêtes sociales générales (ESG) de Statistique Canada pour l'année 1998 cycle 12 (ESG-12) et pour l'année 2005 cycle 19 (ESG-19). Les résultats montrent qu'il existe une différence entre les immigrants et les natifs dans le temps moyen consacré aux activités telles que le travail rémunéré, les achats, les études, la production domestique et les loisirs. Nous avons également constaté que les facteurs démographiques influencent les individus à accorder leur temps différemment. Par ailleurs, nous avons démontré qu'une partie de la différence dans l'emploi du temps est expliquée par les différentes caractéristiques individuelles. Les résultats indiquent aussi que plus l'emploi du temps d'un immigrant est différent d'un natif moyen, plus sa participation sur le marché de travail diminue ainsi que son revenu. Également, le pays d'origine des immigrants pourrait être l'une des causes de la distance, en termes d'emploi du temps, entre les immigrants et les natifs. ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : immigrants, assimilation, emploi du temps, ségrégation, dissimilarité.