Reframing Risk: Strength-Based Approaches to Studying Immigrant Youth Development

Key points

Immigrant youth hold resilience and strengths often overlooked in research.

Cultural assets like bilingualism and adaptability foster positive growth.

Language brokering can build skills if supported, not just be seen as a burden.

Culturally aware research and policy help affirm youth potential and dignity.

In popular rhetoric, immigrant-origin youth are often seen for what they lack. Elements such as lower proficiency in the language of the host country and lack of economic security are what people focus on. Developmental studies on immigrant-origin youth are also often underfunded, which makes it a challenge to proliferate strength-based research on this topic. Indeed, research usually focuses on the problems or challenges they face rather than their strengths or potentia