Resilience and mental health among children and youth with an immigrant background in Europe: A scoping review

A significant and growing proportion of children and youth in Europe have an immigrant background and face increased mental health risks. Resilience is widely recognized as a dynamic process shaped by individual, relational, and contextual factors, yet this complexity is not always fully accounted for in study methodologies. This scoping review examines resilience and well-being in this population, focusing on how resilience is conceptualized and measured. A literature search across six databases identified studies published in peer-reviewed journals between 2012 and August 2023. Of 29,958 records screened, 16 studies met the inclusion criteria. We mapped how studies measured three dimensions of resilience research —risk exposure, promotive/protective processes, and outcomes—and categorized measured factors as individual, relational, or contextual. Considerable variation exists in how resilience is conceptualized and measured across studies, often relying on proxy measures and cross-sectional designs. Many studies categorize immigrant background as a risk factor without systematically measuring the nature and extent of stressors faced by these populations. Most studies focus on one or two resilience factor categories rather than a comprehensive approach. Findings indicate limited knowledge about well-being and resilience in second-generation immigrant adolescents in Europe, with mixed results on resilience, well-being, acculturation, integration, and socio-economic factors. Methodological challenges in resilience research on children and youth with an immigrant background hinder understanding of resilience mechanisms. This review highlights the need for longitudinal studies using standardized yet adaptable resilience measures to better capture resilience processes and inform strategies that promote well-being in this population.