Immigrant Youth Research Group

Faculty Advisors

Child Clinical: Julie Hakim-Larson and Rosanne Menna

Graduate Student Members

  • Cassandra Pasiak
  • Emily Johnson
  • Emily Kear
  • Erin Romanchych
  • Felicia Chang
  • Julie Norman
  • Riham Al-Saadi
  • Shawna Scott

Undergraduate Student Members

  • Achol Chagay Atem
  • Alana Hill
  • Cailynn Laprise
  • Gorana Miljevic
  • Ibukun Opeyemi
  • Razaan Barquni
  • Safia Abdulle
  • Zach Telfer
  • Zina Chaker

Former Graduate Student Members

  • Ashley Paterson
  • Kristen Williams
  • Samantha Daniel

Interests and Activities

The Immigrant Youth Research Group (IYRG) is comprised of a group of faculty and students interested in issues relevant to immigrant youth. Given Canada’s official multicultural policy, there are growing numbers of children and adolescents who arrive in North America from Europe, South America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Some are born in North America to parents who have immigrated. Thus, there are many young people who are either the first or second generation to reside in North America. The focus of the research conducted in this group is on the overall health and well-being of these immigrant youth as they transition to North American society. In particular, the aims of the group include fostering our understanding of:

  • The multiple identities that immigrant youth may develop over time.
  • The specific psychosocial and educational needs of immigrant youth.
  • The most effective community-based and professional interventions for immigrant youth.

Current Funding

Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Grant
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Connection Grant 

Project

International Perspectives on Developmental Pathways for Arab Youth Identity: The purpose of this project is to clarify which aspects of Arab youth development need to be better understood from psychological, legal, and medical viewpoints. The Arab Youth Study Group consists of a number of international research partners from the Middle East, Europe, and North America. This initiative brought together a number of international academic and non-academic experts for a two-day symposium at the University of Windsor on May 29 and 30, 2013. Conference proceedings from the International Symposium on Arab Youth: Developmental Pathways for Identity: http://scholar.uwindsor.ca/arabyouthsymp/

Selected Publications

Hakim-Larson, J., & Menna, R. (in press). The acculturation, enculturation, and ethnic identity of Arab Americans. In M. Amer & G. Awad (Eds.), Handbook of Arab American Psychology. Routledge.

Scott, S. A., & Wingsiong, A. (2014). Paving the way for international research on Arab youth identity development.  Canadian Psychological Association Mind Pad, 12-15.

Nassar-McMillan, S. C., Ajrouch, K. J. & Hakim-Larson, J. (Eds.). (2014). Biopsychosocial perspectives on Arab Americans: Culture, development and health.  New York: Springer.

Hakim-Larson, J., Nassar-McMillan, S., & Paterson, A. D. (2013). Counseling Middle Eastern Americans. In G. McAuliffe (Ed.), Culturally Alert Counseling: A Comprehensive Introduction 2nd Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Ltd.

Paterson, A. D., & Hakim-Larson, J. (2012). Arab Youth in Canada: Acculturation, Ethnic Identity, and Adjustment. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 40, 206-215.

Hakim-Larson, J., Kamoo, R., Nassar-McMillan, S., & Porcerelli, J. (2007). Counseling Arab and Chaldean American families. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 29, 301-321.

Nassar-McMillan, S., & Hakim-Larson, J. (2003). Counseling considerations among Arab Americans. Journal of Counseling and Development, 81, 150-159.

Submitted Contributions

Hakim-Larson, J., & Scott, S. A. (under review). Arab Families from the Levant (Lebanese, Syrian, Palestinian, Jordanian). In U. P. Gielen, R. Moodley, & S. Akram (Eds.), Asian Families in North America.  Springer Publications.

Selected Conference Presentations:

Scott, S. A., Pasiak, C., Hakim-Larson, J., & Menna, R. (2014, August). A developmental psychopathology approach to promoting resilience in Arab American youth. Poster presented at the 122nd Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC.

Hakim-Larson, J., & Menna, R. (2014, June). Arab youth identity issues around the world: Theoretical perspectives and research agendas. Roundtable discussion presented at the 75th Annual Convention of the Canadian Psychological Association, Vancouver, BC.

Al-Saadi, R. N. (2013, May). Acculturation strategies and Arab youth cultural identity development: A review. Poster presented at the International Symposium on Arab Youth: Developmental Pathways for Identity, Windsor, Ontario.

Daniel, S., & Hakim-Larson, J. (2013, May). Multicultural youth in Canada: Comparing friendships and perceived social support. Poster presented at the International Symposium on Arab Youth: Developmental Pathways for Identity, Windsor, Ontario.

Elkord, N. (2013, May). Arab Canadian high school students’ perceptions of their schooling experiences: A narrative analysis. Poster presented at the International Symposium on Arab Youth: Developmental Pathways for Identity, Windsor, Ontario.

Johnson, E. M., Kear, E., Norman, J., Romanchych, E., & Menna, R. (2013, May). Help seeking behaviours and depressive symptoms in Arab Canadian and European Canadian adolescents. Poster presented at the International Symposium on Arab Youth: Developmental Pathways for Identity, Windsor, Ontario.

Paterson, A. D., & Hakim-Larson, J. (2009, August). Gender Differences among Arab-Canadian Youth: Ethnic Identity and Peer Contact. Poster presented at the 2009 Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, Ontario.

Paterson, A. D., & Hakim-Larson, J. (2009, May). Acculturation in private and public life domains among Arab youth. Poster presented at the 2009 Biennial Meeting of the Society of Research in Child Development, Denver, Colorado.

Hakim-Larson, J. A., Nasser-McMillan, S. C., Lambert, R. G., & Paterson, A. D. (2008, August). Personal and Social Values in Arab Americans Post 9-11. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Boston, Massachusetts.

Student Theses and Dissertations: 

Daniel, S. (2013). Immigrant & Non-Immigrant Youth in Canada: Cultural Orientation, Ethnicity of Friends, and Life Satisfaction among Four Ethnic Groups. (Master’s thesis). Available from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. (UMI No. MR87354)

Paterson, A. D. (2008). The private and public life domains of Arab youth in Canada: Acculturation, ethnic identity, social support, and adjustment. (Master’s thesis). Available from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. (UMI No. MR47080)

Contact Information

iyrg@uwindsor.ca