JaHun Kim1, Semret Nicodimos2, Siri E Kushner3, Isaac C Rhew4, Elizabeth McCauley5, Ann Vander Stoep6. 1. Seattle University, 901 12th Avenue, P.O. Box. 222000, Seattle, WA 98122-1090. 2. Developmental Pathways Research Program, University of Washington, 6200 NE 74th Street, Suite 210, Seattle, WA 98115. 3. Kitsap Public Health District, 346 6th Street, Bremerton, WA 98337. 4. Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, 1100 NE 45th Street, Suite 300, Office 317 Box 35944, Seattle, WA 98105. 5. Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, 6200 NE 74th Street, Suite 210, Seattle, WA 98115. 6. Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences/Epidemiology, University of Washington, 6200 NE 74th Street, Suite 210, Seattle, WA 98115.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To compare the mental health status of children of immigrant (COI) and non-immigrant (NI) parents and to determine whether differences in mental health status between COI and NI vary across 4 racial/ethnic groups. METHODS: We conducted universal mental health screening of 2374 sixth graders in an urban public school district. To screen, we administered well-validated adolescent depression and disruptive behavior problem questionnaires. We evaluated associations between child mental health, parent immigration status, and race/ethnicity using binomial regression. RESULTS: Among Asian American/Pacific Islanders and Latinos, COI had significantly higher depression and disruptive behavior scores compared to NI. For Blacks/African Americans, children of NI parents had significantly higher disruptive behavior scores compared to COI. For European Americans, scores of COI and NI did not differ and were relatively low. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that how the emotional health of COI is faring relative to children of NI depends on the child's race/ethnicity.
BACKGROUND: To compare the mental health status of children of immigrant (COI) and non-immigrant (NI) parents and to determine whether differences in mental health status between COI and NI vary across 4 racial/ethnic groups. METHODS: We conducted universal mental health screening of 2374 sixth graders in an urban public school district. To screen, we administered well-validated adolescent depression and disruptive behavior problem questionnaires. We evaluated associations between child mental health, parent immigration status, and race/ethnicity using binomial regression. RESULTS: Among Asian American/Pacific Islanders and Latinos, COI had significantly higher depression and disruptive behavior scores compared to NI. For Blacks/African Americans, children of NI parents had significantly higher disruptive behavior scores compared to COI. For European Americans, scores of COI and NI did not differ and were relatively low. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that how the emotional health of COI is faring relative to children of NI depends on the child's race/ethnicity.
Authors: Alejandra Caqueo-Urízar; Diego Atencio; Jerome Flores; Marigen Narea; Alfonso Urzúa; Matías Irarrázaval Journal: J Immigr Minor Health Date: 2020-10-06