Karen J. Aroian

Resilience, Stress, and Depression among Russian Immigrants to Israel

This article reports the relationships between resilience, demographic characteristics, immigration demands, and depression in a sample of 450 adult Russian immigrants to Israel. Contrary to theories of how resilience is related to psychological outcomes, no support was found for resilience modifying or mediating the relationship between the demands of immigration and depression. Resilience did, however, increase the risk of not being depressed by about two-fold (p < .0001).

African American Culture and Hypertension Prevention

A qualitative study was done to explore attitudes and beliefs of African Americans regarding hypertension-preventive self-care behaviors. Five focus groups, with 34 participants, were held using interview questions loosely based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Analysis revealed themes broadly consistent with the TPB and also identified an overarching theme labeled “circle of culture.” The circle is a metaphor for ties that bind individuals within the larger African American community and provides boundaries for culturally acceptable behaviors. Three subthemes were identified: One describes how health behaviors are “passed from generation to generation,” another reflects a sense of being “accountable” to others within the culture, and the third reflects negative views toward people who are “acting different,” moving outside the circle of culture. Findings provide an expanded perspective of the TPB by demonstrating the influence of culture and collective identity on attitude formation and health-related behaviors among African Americans.

Predicting psychological distress among former Soviet immigrants.

This study investigated whether age, gender, marital status, education, employ ment, length of time in the U.S. and immigration demands (novelty, occupation, language, discrimination, loss, and not feeling at home) were predictors of psychological distress in a sample of 1,647 former Soviet immigrants. Multiple regression analysis indicated that the combined model of demographic and demand of immigration variables was significant. Results indicated that women, older immigrants, those with less than a college education, and those with greater immigration demands related to novelty, language, discrimination, loss, and not feeling at home were most distressed.

Development and psychometric evaluation of the Demands of Immigration Scale.

The Demands of Immigration Scale (DI) measures demands associated with immigration, including loss, novelty, occupational adjustment, language accommodation, discrimination, and not feeling at home in the resettlement country. The DI scale was evaluated in a sample of 1,647 immigrants from the former Soviet Union who had resided in the United States from a few months to 20 years. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the proposed factor model. The DI subscales were internally consistent and had good test-retest reliability. Support for concurrent validity was demonstrated by correlations in the expected direction between the DI total and subscale scores and measures of depression and somatization. Support for discriminant validity was demonstrated by mean group differences in some or all of the DI dimensions according to age and years in the United States.

Psychometric evaluation of the Russian Language version of the Resilience Scale.

The Resilience Scale (RS) was developed by Wagnild and Young (1993) to measure a personality characteristic or coping resource that facilitates adaptation. The RS, however, has not been evaluated with foreign-born populations. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to report the factor structure, internal consistency, and concurrent validity of a Russian language version of the RS in a sample of 450 recent former Soviet immigrants. The 25-item 2-factor solution obtained by Wagnild and Young (1993) was not supported by the Russian data. However, a modified 12-item Russian language version of the RS was, for the most part, reliable and valid: The standardized factor loadings and goodness of fit indices obtained from confirmatory factor analysis were acceptable, the internal consistency of one of the two subscales was very good, and the correlations between scores from the RS subscales and various measures of constructs that are theoretically linked with adaptation were in the expected direction and statistically significant.

Gender differences in psychological distress among immigrants from the former Soviet Union

In this study we compared rates and correlates of psychological distress among immigrant women and men from the former Soviet Union. A demographic, migration, and social network questionnaire and the Symptom Checklist-90-R were administered to 935 female and 706 male immigrants. Older age and less time in the United States predicted distress in both gender groups. However, having less education, leaving relatives behind, and not being sponsored by friends or a religious organization predicted greater distress for women. Women reported significantly more distress than men except for those men who were married and retired.

Use of the Brief Symptom Inventory to Assess Psychological Distress in Three Immigrant Groups

This paper examined the internal consistency reliability of two newly developed alternate language versions of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) (This is not the Bradford Somatic Inventory, which is also known as the BSI) when used with Polish and Filipino immigrants and the original versions of the BSI and its parent instrument, the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) when used with Irish immigrants; and, the theoretical and criterion related validity of the Psychoticism subscale of the BSI for Polish, Filipino, and Irish immigrants. Internal consistency estimates and triangulation of individual BSI global and subscale scores with verbal self- reports and clinical assessments demonstrated that the BSI is a relatively reliable and valid cross-cultural measure of psychological distress. However, problems with the Psychoticism subscale occurred across all three immigrant groups, which suggested that this subscale should be interpreted with caution when used with immigrants.

To transform or not transform skewed data for psychometric analysis that is the question

BackgroundAlthough data transformation is generally recommended, its benefits of have not been widely studied. This report reviews evidence regarding the costs and benefits of transforming skewed data with respect to two statistics commonly used in psychometric analyses: the Cronbach alpha and the Pearson product-moment correlation. MethodsData describing 758 immigrants from the former Soviet Union who completed a Russian language version of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) were used to demonstrate the effects of transformation. More than half (55%) of the SCL-90-R items had a problematic skew. The Cronbach alpha and the Pearson product-moment correlation were calculated for original item responses as well as for square root and log transformations of these responses. Sample size (full, 30%, 20%), transformation type (square root or log transformation), and transformation method (sum items first and then transform, transform items first and then sum) were manipulated to evaluate the relevance of these factors to transformation. ResultsRegardless of sample size, neither the Cronbach alpha nor the Pearson product-moment correlation showed a difference between original and transformed data, with one exception. When items were transformed first before being summed in the calculation of the Pearson product-moment correlation, inconsistently higher (+.05) or slightly lower values (−.01) were observed relative to those created with the nontransformed data across the different sample sizes. ConclusionsThese findings suggest that data transformation is not always needed or advisable when the Cronbach alpha or Pearson product-moment correlation is calculated for instruments with skewed item responses.

Commentary: Writing and Evaluating Qualitative Research Reports

OBJECTIVE To provide an overview of qualitative methods, particularly for reviewers and authors who may be less familiar with qualitative research. METHODS A question and answer format is used to address considerations for writing and evaluating qualitative research. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS When producing qualitative research, individuals are encouraged to address the qualitative research considerations raised and to explicitly identify the systematic strategies used to ensure rigor in study design and methods, analysis, and presentation of findings. Increasing capacity for review and publication of qualitative research within pediatric psychology will advance the fields ability to gain a better understanding of the specific needs of pediatric populations, tailor interventions more effectively, and promote optimal health.

Adaptation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support for Arab Immigrant Women

We adapted the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) for use with Arab immigrant women (MSPSS-AW) and estimated the psychometric properties of the adapted version with a sample of 539 Arab immigrant women living in the United States. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported the proposed three-factor solution. Internal consistency reliability coefficients for the three subscales ranged from good to very good. Additional evidence for construct validity of the MSPSS-AW subscales was demonstrated through relationships with theoretically related measures. We conclude that the MSPSS-AW is reliable and valid for use with Arab immigrant women.