Title
Psychosocial problems among immigrant and non-immigrant children: Ethnicity plays a role in their occurrence and identification
Author
Reijneveld, S.A.
Harland, P.
Brugman, E.
Verhulst, F.C.
Verloove-Vanhorick, S.P.
Publication year
2005
Abstract
Background This study aims to examine a) the prevalence of psychosocial problems and b) the association between parent-reported problems and the identification by doctors and nurses (child health professionals, CHP) working in preventive child health care, among immigrant and non-immigrant children. Methods CHPs examined 4,098 children aged 5 through 15 years (response: 90.1%) and interviewed parents and children during their routine health assessments in 19 Child Healthcare Services across the Netherlands, serving nearly all school-aged children routinely. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was completed by the parents. We compared five ethnic groups: indigenous Dutch, economic immigrants, immigrants from (former) Dutch colonies, from other non-industrialised, and from other industrialised countries. Results The prevalence of parent-reported problems on the CBCL is higher among children from former Dutch colonies and economic immigrant children than among indigenous children, especially regarding internalising problems (odds ratios (OR); 95% confidence interval: 1.84; 1.03 to 3.29, and 2.52; 1.46 to 4.34). CHPs identified more problems among economic immigrant children (OR: 1.62; 1.01 to 2.60). Regarding associations, rates of CHP-identified problems were higher among indigenous children with clinical compared with normal CBCL Total Problems scores (OR: 6.90; 5.27 to 9.03), but not among economic immigrant children (OR: 0.73; 0.16 to 3.21). Conclusions Psychosocial problems occur more frequently among some immigrant groups. CHP identification of psychosocial problems is poorly associated with parent report regarding economic immigrant children. This needs to be improved in order to provide better care. © Steinkopff Verlag 2005.
Subject
Health
Children
Early identification
Ethnicity
Mental health
Preventive child health care
Behavior
Confidence interval
Economic aspect
Ethnology
Health care
Health practitioner
Health service
Immigrant
Idustrialization
Information processing
Interview
Major clinical study
Parent
Prevalence
Preventive medicine
Risk assessment
Scoring system
Social psychology
Child health care
Child parent relation
Controlled study
Immigration
Indigenous people
Physician
Psychosocial disorder
Adolescent
Child
Child Health Services
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic Groups
Female
Humans
Male
Netherlands
Prevalence
Preventive Health Services
Psychology
Social Behavior
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-005-0454-y
TNO identifier
238516
ISSN
1018-8827
Source
European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 14 (3), 145-152
Document type
article