Nativity Differences in Child Development across Diverse Populations, Settings and Outcomes: Do Socioeconomic Resources Narrow or Widen the Gap?

Identifying and explaining nativity-based inequalities in child development at an early age is essential for ensuring the smooth social integration of children in immigrant families. Using two nationally representative samples of children born in the United States and United Kingdom, we examine: 1) the breadth of nativity-based inequalities in child development across multiple domains of development (health, cognitive and socioemotional development), several ethnic groups, and two different policy contexts; and 2) the moderating role of parental resources. The findings highlight the broad-reaching nature of developmental differences between children in immigrant and native-born families, and families’ socioeconomic resources emerge as both a buffering and risk factor for children with migration backgrounds.