Psychologist Dayana Yakho said that the children of immigrants, particularly the generation of young children and adolescents who arrive to a new country from their homeland struggle with multiple cultures; their lived childhood, their parents' culture and the culture of their new home.
This mix of culture has an affect on children, as they experience a new school system and new laws all within a different environment, which leads them to form their own culture. Young people who struggle with these differences experience identity conflict as well as a general feeling of being misunderstood. They have the difficult task of balancing the various cultures that they belong to.
Ms. Yakho noted, however, that this experience has some positives. Young people living within multiple cultures usually have flexible thinking, which is beneficial when problem solving. They also have the ability master more than one language. Overall, the third culture helps them form a unique personality.
Ms. Yakho urges parents to be more understanding of their children, who have suffered like them and need parental help to build their future.
