CHILDREN OF WEST INDIAN IMMIGRANTS—III. HOME CIRCUMSTANCES AND FAMILY PATTERNS

Abstract
SUMMARY: A total population survey was made of all 10‐yr‐old children in an inner London borough. As part of this study, systematic standardised interviews were held with random samples of parents of children from West Indian families and of children from non‐immigrant families. In contrast to the situation in the Caribbean, the nuclear family was the norm for West Indian families living in London, just as it was non‐immigrant families. In many respects the West Indians and non‐immigrant families were closely similar. No differences were found in rates of parental mental disorder or criminality and the quality of family relationships was the same in the two groups. However, the West Indian parents were more likely to hold semiskilled or unskilled manual jobs and to live in poor quality overcrowded housing. In spite of this, they were also more likely to own their own house. West Indian families had many more children and differed somewhat in their patterns of child rearing. The significance of these findings is discussed in terms of both likely effects on child development and also the future implications for West Indian families living in London.

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