B4633 - Bilingualisms influence on Mental Health - 17/06/2024

B number: 
B4633
Principal applicant name: 
Andrea Krott | University of Birmingham (United Kingdom)
Co-applicants: 
Dr Rory T. Devine, Mrs Paulina Salgado Garcia
Title of project: 
Bilingualism's influence on Mental Health
Proposal summary: 

One in 5 children in the United Kingdom speak two or more languages (Department of Education, 2020). Some studies have shown that bilingual children have greater mental health issues compared to monolingual children (Guhn, et. al., 2010). However, Halle et al. (2012) found that bilingual children had fewer mental health problems than their monolingual peers. Due to mixed results in the literature, it is unclear what the consequences for children’s and adolescents’ mental health when grown-up bilinguals. Using data from the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), we have shown that bilingualism acts as a protective factor on mental health for children between 3 to 11 years old (Salgado-Garcia, Devine, & Krott, in preparation). Compared to monolingual children, bilingual children had lower levels of internalizing and externalizing problems when sex differences, nonverbal IQ, family background (SES), school characteristics, and language proficiency were taken into account. The current project aims to investigate the cognitive mechanisms underpinning the difference between bilingual and monolingual children’s mental health, specifically focus on executive functions and theory of mind.

Impact of research: 
Research results will have impacts on research, policy makers, education, the health system and immigrants of local communities. Firstly, the results will provide further evidence for a protective effect of bilingualism on mental health and whether this relationship is mediated by cognitive abilities (such as Executive Functions and Theory of Mind). Secondly, with the increasing prevalence of mental health problems in adolescence, identifying the underlying mechanism at play will have crucial implications for policymakers. Confirming bilingualism as a protective factor will be instrumental in shaping new policies aimed at promoting the maintenance of the second language of immigrant communities and integrating second language education in the UK. Also, the NHS could identify groups at higher risk of mental health problems by looking at individual differences and implement intervention strategies for these groups. Additionally, the findings can directly impact education by implementing strategies to promote bilingualism and enhance cognitive abilities through formal education. Finally, this research will directly empower bilingual communities and potentially reduce stigma and misconceptions surrounding raising bilingual children.
Date proposal received: 
Tuesday, 4 June, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 6 June, 2024
Keywords: 
Mental health - Psychology, Psychiatry, Cognition, Mental health, Statistical methods, Cognition - cognitive function