Robert S. McKelvey

Emotional and behavioural problems and competencies among immigrant and non-immigrant adolescents

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare levels of emotional and behavioural problems and competencies among immigrant and non-immigrant adolescents, and to determine factors that may contribute to any differences reported. Method: Subjects were selected randomly from students aged 12-16 years attending a high school with a high proportion of immigrants in Perth, Western Australia. Parents completed the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL), and students completed the Youth Self-Report (YSR) and a Personal History Questionnaire. Results: On univariate analyses, non-immigrant adolescents had significantly higher CBCL and YSR scores than immigrant adolescents. Multivariate analyses suggested that CBCL scores were predicted by a number of variables other than immigration, including family intactness, socioeconomic status (SES) and gender. Higher YSR scores were predicted by non-intact families, school setting and non-immigrant status, and higher competencies scores were predicted by higher SES and parents not being immigrants. Conclusions: In assessing the effects of immigration on adolescent mental health, it is important to control for factors associated with adolescent behavioural and emotional problems and to use multiple informants. Overall, immigrant adolescents report fewer total and externalising problems and fewer competencies than native-born adolescents. This finding may reflect strict immigration policies or cultural differences in definitions of psychopathology and the social expectations for adolescents behaviour.

Risk Factors and Their Relation to Initiation of Alcohol Use among Early Adolescents

This study examined the relationship between risk factors and initiation of alcohol use over a 15-month period among a cohort of 7th graders who were abstainers at the time of initial testing. The relationship between risk factors and alcohol use was examined using a discriminant function analysis. At the univariate level, rejection of parental authority, deviant behavior, and sensation seeking were statistically significant. The discriminant function retained only three of the risk factors: rejection of parental authority, deviant behavior, and religious commitment. Implications for school-based prevention programs are discussed, particularly the need to target primary prevention programs based upon adolescents risk.

Premigratory Expectations and Mental Health Symptomatology in a Group of Vietnamese Amerasian Youth

This paper reports on the first phase of a prospective longitudinal evaluation of the relationship between premigratory expectations for life in the United States and postmigratory symptoms of anxiety and depression in a group of Vietnamese Amerasian youth. Premigratory expectations, as measured by an expectations questionnaire, are correlated with concurrent symptomatology assessed utilizing the General Health Questionnaire, Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25, and Vietnamese Depression Scale. Those with higher premigratory expectations tended to report fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression. Implications of these findings for future research defining the relationship between premigratory expectations and postmigratory symptoms are discussed.

A Pilot Study of Abuse among Vietnamese Amerasians.

This report describes a pilot study of the prevalence of physical and sexual abuse, and current levels of psychological distress correlated with a history of abuse, in a group of Vietnamese Amerasians bound for the United States. A sample of Vietnamese Amerasians, part of a larger cohort originally selected in Vietnam, was assessed in the Philippines. Subjects completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding a history of physical and/or sexual abuse and three other self-administered questionnaires: the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25, the Vietnamese Depression Scale, and the Youth Self Report. A history of physical and/or sexual abuse was reported by 22% of male and 18% of female Amerasians. Abused male Amerasians reported significantly higher levels of psychological distress than nonabused male Amerasians, while abused and nonabused female Amerasians did not differ in their levels of psychological distress.

Premigratory Expectations and Postmigratory Mental Health Symptoms in Vietnamese Amerasians

OBJECTIVEnTo determine the relationship between premigratory expectations for ones future life in the United States and postmigratory symptoms of anxiety and depression in a group of Vietnamese Amerasians.nnnMETHODnA cohort of 161 Vietnamese Amerasian migrants was assessed prior to departure from Vietnam using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25), the Vietnamese Depression Scale, and an Expectations Questionnaire. After migration to the United States, subjects were reassessed using the HSCL-25 and the Vietnamese Depression Scale.nnnRESULTSnPremigratory expectations for support from the Vietnamese community in the United States were associated with significantly higher scores on the HSCL-25 Depression scale. Of subjects reassessed in the United States, 20% scored in the clinical range for depression.nnnCONCLUSIONSnLike-ethnic community support is critically important in preventing depressive symptoms among Vietnamese Amerasian migrants. Clinicians working with Amerasians should target those with unrealistically high expectations for preventive intervention and should approach Vietnamese community leaders to mobilize support for recently arrived Amerasians.

Development of a Risk Profile for Intentions to Use Alcohol among Fifth and Sixth Graders

OBJECTIVEnThe relationship between intentions to use alcohol and risk factors was examined among fifth and sixth graders.nnnMETHODnSubjects completed a questionnaire that assessed intentions to use alcohol and eight risk factors. Risk factors included peer and parental use and attitudes toward use, sensation seeking, tolerance of deviance, rejection of parental authority, and family cohesion.nnnRESULTSnMultivariate analyses showed that the risk factors were able to discriminate between those who intended to use alcohol and those who did not. Family factors showed stronger relationships to intentions among fifth graders, and peer factors were more strongly related to intentions among sixth graders.nnnCONCLUSIONSnRisk factors can be used to target preadolescents who may be at risk for early alcohol use, and programs that attempt to prevent early initiation of alcohol use among adolescents can be designed.

A prospective study of psychological distress related to refugee camp experience

Objective: Previous reports have suggested a direct relationship between refugee camp experience and levels of psychological distress among refugees. Specifically, it has been postulated that refugee camps with harsh conditions and low levels of social support foster high levels of psychological distress. The present study was designed to assess the relationship between camp conditions and social support within a refugee camp and refugees levels of psychological distress. Unlike previous reports, which were based on retrospective data, the present study evaluated psychological distress among a group of Vietnamese refugees both prior to departure from Vietnam and during their refugee camp experience. Method: A group of 101 Vietnamese Amerasians was assessed at a transit centre in Vietnam and subsequently at a refugee camp in the Philippines. Assessment instruments were the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 and a Camp Comparison Questionnaire. Results: There were significant decreases in symptom levels of anxiety and depression between the transit centre in Vietnam and the refugee camp in the Philippines. However, these changes were not related to changes in refugee camp conditions or social support within the camp. Conclusions: Contrary to previous reports, levels of psychological distress among this group of Vietnamese refugees were not related to either refugee camp conditions or levels of social support within the camp.

Unaccompanied status as a risk factor in Vietnamese Amerasians

This study prospectively evaluates the relationship between unaccompanied status and levels of psychological distress in a group of Vietnamese Amerasians both prior to, and during, migration. Its objective was to determine whether unaccompanied migrant status functions as an independent post-departure risk factor for psychological distress, or if unaccompanied migrants are already at increased risk for, and have higher levels of, psychological distress prior to departure and the acquisition of unaccompanied status. Seventy-five Vietnamese Amerasian youth were evaluated at two points during their migration utilizing Felsmans Personal Information Form, the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25, and the Youth Self-Report. The first assessment was conducted prior to migration at the Amerasian Transit Center in Vietnam, and the second during migration at the Philippine Refugee Processing Center. Unaccompanied Amerasians were found to have significantly higher risk levels for, and significantly more symptoms of, psychological distress prior to migration than accompanied Amerasians. During migration the difference in levels of psychological distress between accompanied and unaccompanied Amerasians increased beyond that attributable to predeparture risk levels alone. This significant differential increase in levels of psychological distress among unaccompanied Amerasians is attributable to unaccompanied status. Unaccompanied migrant status thus appears to function both as an independent postdeparture risk factor for psychological distress and also as a marker for increased levels of risk and psychological distress prior to migration.

A Risk Profile Predicting Psychological Distress in Vietnamese Amerasian Youth

The relationship between risk factors and psychological distress was examined in 161 Vietnamese Amerasian youth. Background factors such as a history of missing school, frequent hospitalizations, and previous refugee camp experience distinguished those with higher levels of anxiety and depression. This study provides support for attempts to link specific risk factors with increased levels of psychological distress in immigrant populations. Confirmation of the predictive power of these risk factors awaits completion of a longitudinal study following the Ameriasians as they resettle in the United States.

Concurrent and Longitudinal Assessment of Risk for Alcohol Use among Seventh Graders

This study examined the relationship between risk factors and alcohol use among seventh graders concurrently and over a 15-month period. Subjects were classified as abstainers, experimenters and users based on a quantity-frequency index of usage. A discriminant analysis predicting alcohol usage using concurrent risk factors generated two functions. The first was composed of measures associated with deviance and peer-related measures. Family-related risk factors and grade average comprised the second function. These functions correctly classified 68% of subjects. A second analysis used Time 1 risk factors to predict alcohol usage 15 months later. The first function was composed of factors related to deviance, family factors, and peer approval. Only peer use loaded on the second function. These functions were able to correctly classify 58% of subjects. Results are discussed in terms of implications of these findings for use in targeting prevention programs relative to adolescents risk level, and the relative importance of various risk factors.