A Mixed Methods Study of Immigrant and Canadian-Born Pakistani Youths Mental Health in Canada: Resilience, Identity and Self-Esteem

The mental health and wellbeing of immigrant minority youth in multicultural societies is shaped by a constellation of social factors which determine their health. Some of these factors include race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, immigration status, social supports and socioeconomic status. Little is known about the mental health issues of immigrant and Canadian-born Pakistani youth in Canada. In order to fill this gap, this study was undertaken. Purpose: The goal of this study was to explore the perspectives of immigrant and Canadian-born Pakistani youth regarding their mental health and to measure their self-rated mental health, self-esteem, resilience and ethnic identity. Method: An embedded concurrent mixed methods study was utilized as per Creswell & Plano Clark (2017). The survey component was completed by 81 youth for the quantitative arm of the study. Individual interviews with 8 youth, 4 parents and 2 service providers were conducted for the qualitative arm. In addition, 3 focus groups with youth and 2 with parents were conducted. Results: Quantitative arm: There was a significant difference in household income by region of birth [X2 (4, n = 81) = 14.59, p = .006] and by generation status [X2 (8, n = 81) = 19.822, p = .011]. Health (Health Composite) was correlated with self-esteem (CSE) (r = 0.726, p < .001). Multiple regression found income was associated with Health Composite (Wald F =3.951, p = .047). Qualitative arm data analysis identified 13 themes, of these 11 related to factors influencing immigrant Pakistani youths mental health. Mixed methods analysis found 9 themes common to both arms: Resilience, mental health cases, mental health supports, dissatisfaction with treatment and supports, stigma, financial difficulties and impact on mental health, identity and acculturation issues, discrimination, justice, fairness and social exclusion. Findings showed that qualitative and quantitative (survey) data may lead to opposite results: race, identity and acculturation affected youths mental health positively (quantitative) and negatively (qualitative). Conclusion: Strategies to overcome mental health challenges in immigrant Pakistani youth should include family counselling, integrating faith-based counselling, destigmatizing Islam, guaranteed employment for newcomer families and non-discriminatory national policies that promote social and cultural inclusion.