Jacques Moreau

Perceived Ethnic Discrimination and Social Exclusion: Newcomer Immigrant Children in Canada

This article examines relationships between perceived ethnic discrimination, social exclusion, psychosocial functioning, and academic performance among newcomer immigrant children from the Peoples Republic of China, Hong Kong, and the Philippines using a subsample from the New Canadian Children and Youth Study of children aged 11-13u2003years (1,053) living in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and the Prairies. Bivariate analysis showed that 25% of children reported being treated unfairly by peers and 14% by teachers because of who they are. Regression analyses revealed that perceived ethnic discrimination by peers and teachers was negatively related to childrens sense of social competence in peer relationships. Childrens self-esteem and sense of academic competence were negatively related to perceived discrimination by teachers. One in 5 children reported feeling like an outsider, with boys revealing higher levels of psychological isolation than girls. More than 1 in 10 were socially isolated and reported never participating in organized activities. This may reflect economic exclusion, as over one third of respondents belonged to families living below the Canadian Income Adequacy Measure. Psychological isolation, social isolation, and economic exclusion were significant predictors of childrens sense of academic competence and actual academic grades. Variations exist across age, sex, ethnicity, family structure, parental education, region of settlement, and length of time since arrival in Canada.

Factores asociados a la consulta odontológica en niños/as y jóvenes de Talca (Chile) e inmigrantes chilenos de Montreal (Canadá)

OBJECTIVEnTo identify the factors that influence the use of dental services in 4-7-year-olds and in 10-13-year-olds resident in the cities of Talca (Chile) and Montreal (Canada).nnnMETHODSnA nonprobabilistic cross-sectional study was carried out in 147 boys and girls in Talca and in 94 boys and girls in Montreal between 2009 and 2011. Sociodemographic variables were recorded in parents and children, including age and sex. Data were also gathered on parental education, family composition, and proximity to health centers within neighborhoods. The data were analyzed with Fishers exact test and the robust Cox regression model (with constant time) with a significance level of 0,05.nnnRESULTSnIn Talca, parental education was significantly associated with dental care visits at least twice a year. The children of parents with university education were 2.20 times more likely to consult a dentist (95% CI: 1.30-3.73). Children whose parents perceived their childrens health positively were 53% (OR = 0,47; 95% CI: 0,28-0,77) less likely to consult a dentist. In Montreal, the children of parents with university education were 2.10 times more likely to consult a dentist (95%CI: 1.17-3.76), while older children (10-13 years) were 2.11 (95% CI: 1.15-3.88) times more likely to consult a dentist.nnnCONCLUSIONSnIn both cities, parental education level was associated with the use of dental services.

Le modèle de la pédiatrie sociale en communauté et ses retombées sur le bien-être des familles : une étude pilote

Au Quebec, les Centres de pediatrie sociale en communaute (CPSC) offrent aux enfants et a leurs familles en situation de grande vulnerabilite psychosociale une approche d’intervention de proximite alliant des services medicaux, psychosociaux, specialises et juridiques. Cet article vise a presenter les resultats d’une etude realisee aupres de familles frequentant un CPSC depuis au moins un an. S’inspirant d’une approche methodologique mixte, l’etude permet de documenter les retombees des services sur le bien-etre psychosocial des enfants et de leurs parents. Des resultats issus de la passation de divers instruments valides (GED, ISP, SSQ, EMMD) (pre et post-test) aupres de 26 parents et de 18 enfants permettent d’observer des effets positifs significatifs chez l’enfant apres un an de presence dans les CPSC. Alors que les resultats des mesures quantitatives sont moins probants chez les parents, ceux issus des entrevues semi-dirigees realisees aupres de 17 parents et 7 intervenant.e.s montrent qu’ils y voient certaines retombees, plus particulierement sur leur sentiment d’efficacite parentale et leur perception du soutien social. Ces resultats montrent la pertinence de ces organisations et soulevent des pistes de reflexion en regard de l’aide apportee aux parents.

Vingt ans de recherche et d'action au service du bien-être des enfants

The rates of child maltreatment and family violence are such that these problems are increasingly recognized worldwide as significant public health problems. In Canada, over the last 15 years, studies have allowed us to follow the development of indicators of child abuse and neglect. The most recent Canadian incidence study showed that 14 children in 1,000 were identified as victims following an evaluation of youth protection services in 2008; in Québec the rate was 11 children per 1,000 during the same period. These rates do not include children considered ‘at risk’, nor victims of coercive parental conduct who are not brought to the attention of the authorities. In these cases, data from population-based surveys reveal rates 10 to 20 times higher, depending on the types of violence reported. Alarming in its scale, child maltreatment leads to many, welldocumented consequences, both physical and psychosocial. In spite of increased awareness, however, it remains difficult, even impossible, to determine its exact causes. Nowadays, theoretical models postulate that these various events have multiple, interrelated and cumulative causes. In this respect, ecological and transactional approaches suggest taking into consideration the mutual influence of a number of factors, including the characteristics of the child, the parents, the parent–child relationships, living conditions and the broader social environment. Recognition of the scope of the child maltreatment, its impacts and its etiological complexity has given rise, over the last several decades, to the adoption of a public health approach in order to grasp the problem as a whole. Public health has influenced a lot of research in the field of family violence, whether it be the definition and monitoring of the scope of the problem, the identification of its causes, the development and assessment of possible preventive actions or the implementation of preventive and curative interventions based on research results. Between 1992 and 2012, a team in Québec made up of researchers, clinicians and stakeholders worked to implement such an approach by creating GRAVE (Groupe de recherche et daction sur la victimisation des enfants), a research and action group on child victimization.

Twenty years of research and action for the well-being of children

The rates of child maltreatment and family violence are such that these problems are increasingly recognized worldwide as significant public health problems. In Canada, over the last 15 years, studies have allowed us to follow the development of indicators of child abuse and neglect. The most recent Canadian incidence study showed that 14 children in 1,000 were identified as victims following an evaluation of youth protection services in 2008; in Quebec the rate was 11 children per 1,000 during the same period. These rates do not include children considered ‘at risk’, nor victims of coercive parental conduct who are not brought to the attention of the authorities. In these cases, data from population-based surveys reveal rates 10 to 20 times higher, depending on the types of violence reported. Alarming in its scale, child maltreatment leads to many, welldocumented consequences, both physical and psychosocial. In spite of increased awareness, however, it remains difficult, even impossible, to determine its exact causes. Nowadays, theoretical models postulate that these various events have multiple, interrelated and cumulative causes. In this respect, ecological and transactional approaches suggest taking into consideration the mutual influence of a number of factors, including the characteristics of the child, the parents, the parent–child relationships, living conditions and the broader social environment. Recognition of the scope of the child maltreatment, its impacts and its etiological complexity has given rise, over the last several decades, to the adoption of a public health approach in order to grasp the problem as a whole. Public health has influenced a lot of research in the field of family violence, whether it be the definition and monitoring of the scope of the problem, the identification of its causes, the development and assessment of possible preventive actions or the implementation of preventive and curative interventions based on research results. Between 1992 and 2012, a team in Quebec made up of researchers, clinicians and stakeholders worked to implement such an approach by creating GRAVE (Groupe de recherche et daction sur la victimisation des enfants), a research and action group on child victimization.