The mental health disparities of immigrant-origin children and adolescents in Finland: Lessons learned from whole population surveys

In European studies, immigrant origin adolescents (IOA) report more mental health symptoms compared to their native counterparts. According to our studies (N = 4) using whole population survey data (N = 458 856), this is the case in Finland, too. In the present paper, we synthesize findings from these studies. We illuminate the correlates of mental health with socio-ecological microsystems among IOA’s and natives to better understand how these relations contribute to the mental health disparity. Our studies have revealed that mental health disparities widen within first-generation from primary school (ages 10–12) to secondary school (ages 14–16). At the end of primary school adverse experiences such as bullying had an equal effect irrespective of adolescent’s background, while positive experiences seemed to be more strongly related with less depressive symptoms among natives than IOA’s. Yet, in secondary school, bullying was more adverse for first-generation than second-generation IOA’s. Among secondary school students, the school experience had a stronger association with mental health among first-generation IOA’s originating from refugee generating countries explaining 39 – 46 % of the variation in depressive symptoms, generalized anxiety, and school burnout, while among other immigrant groups these associations were weaker. IOA’s perceive more bullying and discrimination and are less likely to feel that they belong, both of which were strongly associated with mental health symptoms. Actions aiming to increase a sense of belonging and reduce victimization among IOA’s are important goals in narrowing the mental health disparity, schools being the prominent contexts for change.