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Jiang H, Shek DTL, Law MYM. Differences between Chinese Adolescent Immigrants and Adolescent Non-Immigrants in Hong Kong: Perceived Psychosocial Attributes, School Environment and Characteristics of Hong Kong Adolescents. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18073739. [PMID: 33918464 PMCID: PMC8038285 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18073739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Although the impact of immigration on adolescent developmental outcomes has received extensive scholarly attention, the impact of internal migration, particularly in the Chinese context, on adolescents’ psychosocial development has not been scientifically investigated. This study examined whether mainland Chinese adolescent immigrants (N = 590) and adolescent non-immigrants (n = 1798) differed on: (a) psychosocial attributes indexed by character traits, well-being, social behavior, and views on child development, (b) perceived school environment, and (c) perceptions of characteristics of Hong Kong adolescents. Consistent with the healthy migration hypothesis, Hong Kong adolescents and mainland Chinese adolescent immigrants did not differ on most of the outcomes; Chinese adolescent immigrants showed higher perceived moral character, empathy, and social trust than did Hong Kong adolescent non-immigrants. Chinese adolescent immigrants also showed more favorable perceptions of the school environment and moral character, social trust and social responsibility of adolescents in Hong Kong. This pioneer Chinese study provides support for the healthy immigration hypothesis (immigration paradox hypothesis) but not the immigration morbidity hypothesis within the specific sociocultural context of Hong Kong in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hechao Jiang
- Research Institute of Social Development, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu 611130, China;
| | - Daniel T. L. Shek
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Correspondence:
| | - Moon Y. M. Law
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, HKCT Institute of Higher Education, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China;
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Chang JC, Huang WL, Chen YL, Gau SSF. The mental health of immigrant mother's offspring in Taiwan: A national epidemiological study. J Formos Med Assoc 2019; 119:601-609. [PMID: 31543300 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2019.08.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE With globalization, transnational marriages become more and more common in the world. The mental health of the offspring of immigrants is a significant public health issue. The present study aimed to investigate whether children of immigrant mothers demonstrate more emotional and behavioral problems than those of native mothers in Taiwan. METHODS In a sample of 6242 children in grade 3, grade 5, and grade 7 from a national epidemiological study of child mental disorders, 617 (9.9%) children were born by immigrant mothers (Chinese, Vietnam, Indonesia, and other countries) and 5625 children by Taiwanese parents. The children reported on Achenbach Youth Self-report, and their parents reported about them on the Child Behavior Checklist, Parental Bonding Inventory, and Family APGAR for assessing emotional and behavioral problems, mother's parenting style, and perceived family support. RESULTS Compared with children of native mothers, children of immigrant mothers reported themselves and were reported by their parents to have more externalizing and internalizing problems. However, after considering the effects of sociodemographics, parenting style, and family function, only significant differences in externalizing problems between children with native or immigrant mothers were found. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that right parenting style and family support; may offset emotional and behavioral problems in children of immigrant mothers, and suggest that improving maternal parenting and family function is beneficial to child development, regardless of immigrant or native mothers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Chi Chang
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Yun-Lin Branch, Yun-Lin, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Hsin-Chu Branch, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Lieh Huang
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Yun-Lin Branch, Yun-Lin, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Lung Chen
- Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Psychology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Susan Shur-Fen Gau
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Saunders NR, Lebenbaum M, Lu H, Stukel TA, Urquia ML, Guttmann A. Trends in mental health service utilisation in immigrant youth in Ontario, Canada, 1996-2012: a population-based longitudinal cohort study. BMJ Open 2018; 8:e022647. [PMID: 30224392 PMCID: PMC6144399 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe trends in mental health service use of youth by immigration status and characteristics. DESIGN Population-based longitudinal cohort study from 1996 to 2012 using linked health and administrative datasets. SETTING Ontario, Canada. PARTICIPANTS Youth 10-24 years, living in Ontario, Canada. EXPOSURE The main exposure was immigration status (recent immigrants vs long-term residents). Secondary exposures were region of origin and refugee status. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Mental health hospitalisations, emergency department (ED) visits and outpatient visits within consecutive 3-year time periods. Poisson regression models estimated rate ratios (RR). RESULTS Over 2.5 million person years per period were included. Rates of recent immigrant mental health service utilisation were at least 40% lower than long-term residents (p<0.0001).Mental health hospitalisation and ED visit rates increased in long-term residents (hospitalisations, RR 1.09 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.09); ED visits, RR 1.15 (1.14 to 1.15)) and recent immigrants (hospitalisations RR 1.05 (1.03 to 1.07); ED visits, RR 1.08 (1.05 to 1.11)). Mental health outpatient visit rates increased in long-term residents (RR 1.03 (1.03 to 1.03)) but declined in recent immigrant (RR 0.94 (0.93 to 0.95)). Comparable divergent trends in acute care and outpatient service use were observed among refugees and across most regions of origin. Recent immigrant acute care use was driven by longer-term refugees (hospitalisations RR 1.12 (1.03 to 1.21); ED visits RR 1.11 (1.02 to 1.20)). CONCLUSIONS Mental health service utilisation was lower among recent immigrants than long-term residents. While acute care use is increasing at a faster rate among long-term residents than recent immigrants, the decrease in outpatient mental health visits in immigrants highlights a potential emerging disparity in access to preventative care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Ruth Saunders
- Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Sickkids Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, The University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael Lebenbaum
- Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hong Lu
- Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Therese A Stukel
- Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, The University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marcelo Luis Urquia
- Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, The University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Centre for Research on Inner City Health, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Astrid Guttmann
- Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Sickkids Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, The University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Dhadda A, Greene G. 'The Healthy Migrant Effect' for Mental Health in England: Propensity-score Matched Analysis Using the EMPIRIC Survey. J Immigr Minor Health 2018; 20:799-808. [PMID: 28389831 PMCID: PMC6061089 DOI: 10.1007/s10903-017-0570-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Evidence has demonstrated that immigrants have a mental health advantage over the indigenous population of developed countries. However, much of the evidence-base demonstrating this mental health advantage is susceptible to confounding and inadequate adjustment across immigrant and non-immigrant groups preventing a rigorous assessment of a 'healthy migrant effect'. To compare the risk of common mental disorders in the immigrant population compared to the non-immigrant population in ethnic minority groups in England. A propensity-score matched analysis was carried out to adequately balance immigrant and non-immigrant groups for known confounders using the EMPIRIC national survey of Black-Caribbean, Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi groups. The mental health of participants was assessed using the validated Revised Clinical Interview Schedule tool. Immigrant participants were significantly less likely to have a common mental disorder than non-immigrant participants; OR = 0.47, (95% CI 0.40, 0.56). The results from this study demonstrate that a mental health advantage exists in ethnic minority immigrants compared to non-immigrants when balancing the two groups for confounding factors. This may be due to immigrants possessing certain personality traits, such as "psychological hardiness", that the migration process may select for.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amrit Dhadda
- Institute of Primary Care & Public Health, Cardiff University School of Medicine, 3rd Floor Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4YS, UK
| | - Giles Greene
- Institute of Primary Care & Public Health, Cardiff University School of Medicine, 3rd Floor Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4YS, UK.
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Mock-Muñoz de Luna CJ, Vitus K, Torslev MK, Krasnik A, Jervelund SS. Ethnic inequalities in child and adolescent health in the Scandinavian welfare states: The role of parental socioeconomic status - a systematic review. Scand J Public Health 2018; 47:679-689. [PMID: 29956595 DOI: 10.1177/1403494818779853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Aims: Adult non-Western immigrants in Scandinavia tend to be worse off in terms of health than native-born populations, which cannot be fully ascribed to their often lower socioeconomic status (SES). This review examines if differences in health status are also present between non-Western immigrant and majority children in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and if SES explains the differences. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, relevant Scandinavian peer-reviewed quantitative publications since 1990 were identified through a systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science and SveMed. Of 1197 identified publications, 27 remained relevant after applying inclusion criteria: 3 Danish, 6 Norwegian and 18 Swedish studies. Results: Non-western immigrant children had overall poorer outcomes compared with ethnic majority children in Denmark, Norway and Sweden in health issues covered by the included studies: diabetes, obesity, oral and mental health, and well-being. However, in diabetes, obesity and mental health, non-Western immigrant children from certain countries and regions, and descendants of non-Western immigrants had similar/more favourable outcomes than majority children. In mental health and well-being, ethnic inequalities were strongly associated with SES, while for diabetes, obesity and oral health, differences remained significant after adjusting for SES. Conclusions: Overall poorer health outcomes in non-Western immigrant compared with majority children in Scandinavia cannot be fully explained by SES. Evidence points to additional mechanisms at individual, household, societal or policy levels, including reasons for migration, culture and societal discrimination. Finally, methodological issues may influence study outcomes, e.g. heterogeneity of populations studied and socioeconomic variables included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire J Mock-Muñoz de Luna
- Danish Research Centre for Migration, Ethnicity and Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
- Section for Health Services Research, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Social and Policy Sciences, University of Bath, UK
| | - Kathrine Vitus
- Department of Sociology and Social Work, Aalborg University-Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mette K Torslev
- Danish Research Centre for Migration, Ethnicity and Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
- Section for Health Services Research, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Allan Krasnik
- Danish Research Centre for Migration, Ethnicity and Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
- Section for Health Services Research, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Signe S Jervelund
- Danish Research Centre for Migration, Ethnicity and Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
- Section for Health Services Research, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
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Comasco E, Gustafsson PA, Sydsjö G, Agnafors S, Aho N, Svedin CG. Psychiatric symptoms in adolescents: FKBP5 genotype--early life adversity interaction effects. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2015; 24:1473-83. [PMID: 26424511 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-015-0768-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 08/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders are multi-factorial and their symptoms overlap. Constitutional and environmental factors influence each other, and this contributes to risk and resilience in mental ill-health. We investigated functional genetic variation of stress responsiveness, assessed as FKBP5 genotype, in relation to early life adversity and mental health in two samples of adolescents. One population-based sample of 909 12-year-old adolescents was assessed using the Life Incidence of Traumatic Events scale and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. One sample of 398 17-year-old adolescents, enriched for poly-victimized individuals (USSS), was assessed using the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire and the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC). The FKBP5 rs1360780 and rs3800373 polymorphisms were genotyped using a fluorescence-based competitive allele-specific PCR. Most prominently among poly-victimized older male adolescents, the least common alleles of the polymorphisms, in interaction with adverse life events, were associated with psychiatric symptoms, after controlling for ethno-socio-economic factors. The interaction effect between rs3800373 and adverse life events on the TSCC sub-scales-anxiety, depression, anger, and dissociation-and with the rs1360780 on dissociation in the USSS cohort remained significant after Bonferroni correction. This pattern of association is in line with the findings of clinical and neuroimaging studies, and implies interactive effects of FKBP5 polymorphisms and early life environment on several psychiatric symptoms. These correlates add up to provide constructs that are relevant to several psychiatric symptoms, and to identify early predictors of mental ill-health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Comasco
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Per A Gustafsson
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, IKE, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, 581 85, Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Gunilla Sydsjö
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Sara Agnafors
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, IKE, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, 581 85, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Nikolas Aho
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, IKE, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, 581 85, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Carl Göran Svedin
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, IKE, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, 581 85, Linköping, Sweden
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Mental Health Problems and School Outcomes Among Immigrant and Non-immigrant Early Adolescents in Norway. SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s12310-014-9129-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Belhadj Kouider E, Koglin U, Petermann F. Emotional and behavioral problems in migrant children and adolescents in Europe: a systematic review. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2014; 23:373-91. [PMID: 24132833 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-013-0485-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2013] [Accepted: 10/03/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Based on findings of Stevens and Vollebergh [69], who analyzed cross-cultural topics, this review considers the current prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems of native children and adolescents in comparison with children with a migration background in European countries. 36 studies published from 2007 up to 2013 chosen from a systematic literature research were included and analyzed in their perspective design in detail. Previous studies showed great differences in their results: Especially in Germany, many studies compare the heterogeneous group of immigrant children with native children to analyze an ethnic minority or migration process effect. Only a British and Turkish study demonstrates the selection effect in migration. Most Dutch or British studies examined different ethnic groups, e.g. Turkish, Moroccan, Surinamese, Pakistani, Indian or Black migrant children and adolescents. Migrant childhood in Europe could be declared a risk in increasing internalizing problem behavior while the prevalent rate in externalizing problem behavior was comparable between native and migrant children. A migration status itself can often be postulated as a risk factor for children's mental condition, in particular migration in first generation. Furthermore, several major influence factors in migrant children's mental health could be pointed out, such as a low socio-economic status, a Non-European origin, an uncertain cultural identity of the parents, maternal harsh parenting or inadequate parental occupation, a minority status, the younger age, gender effects or a specific culture declaration in diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esmahan Belhadj Kouider
- Center for Clinical Psychology and Rehabilitation, University Bremen, Grazer Str. 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany,
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deKeyser L, Svedin CG, Agnafors S, Bladh M, Sydsjö G. Multi-informant reports of mental health in Swedish-born children of immigrants and children born to non-immigrants - the SESBiC-study. BMC Pediatr 2014; 14:95. [PMID: 24712754 PMCID: PMC4234021 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2431-14-95] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2013] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The European literature on mental health of the children of immigrants is limited. Therefore this study aims to investigate gender-specific mental health reported by teachers, parents and the children themselves in 12-year old children of immigrants and non-immigrants and also to study the level of agreement between the different informants. Methods This cross-sectional study is a part of the longitudinal South East Sweden Birth Cohort-study (the SESBiC-study) on children’s health. All children born in town in the south of Sweden 1995-1996 were invited to take part. The mothers of 1723 children (88%) consented. In this part 87 Swedish-born 12-year old children of immigrants and 687 12-year old children of non-immigrants were investigated regarding gender-specific differences in mental health as reported by teachers (Teacher-report form), parents (Child behavior checklist), and children (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) and the agreement reached between the informants. Results Parental immigrant status was not associated with mental health in any of the groups, but living arrangements and parental educational level were mainly found to have an effect on the health status of boys (TRF-Internalizing β = .77 95% CI = .02-1.52; TRF-Externalizing.β = 2.31 95% CI = .63-3.99; TRF-Total β = 6.22 95% CI = 2.27-10.18) The agreement between different informants was generally low, except for externalizing problems among boys (Boys of immigrant parents: Parent and teacher correlation ρ = .422 and Child teacher correlation ρ = .524, p-value < .05, respectively). The correlation between teachers and parents were lower in the index group compared to the reference group. In the index group, the correlations between teacher’s and children’s assessments were fairly high for boys but not for girls (ρ Total = .400, ρ Internalizing = .240 and ρ Externalizing = .524, p-value < .05 for Total and Externalizing). Conclusion This study confirms previous findings that the mental health of children of immigrants is similar to that of children of non-immigrants. We found that family factors have a greater impact on the reported mental health than immigrant status does. This might be of clinical importance for healthcare workers to recognize when investigating and treating children from other cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Gunilla Sydsjö
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Linköping University, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden.
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Björn GJ, Gustafsson PA, Sydsjö G, Berterö C. Family therapy sessions with refugee families; a qualitative study. Confl Health 2013; 7:7. [PMID: 23537380 PMCID: PMC3617022 DOI: 10.1186/1752-1505-7-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2012] [Accepted: 03/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Due to the armed conflicts in the Balkans in the 1990s many families escaped to other countries. The main goal of this study was to explore in more detail the complexity of various family members' experiences and perceptions from their life before the war, during the war and the escape, and during their new life in Sweden. There is insufficient knowledge of refugee families' perceptions, experiences and needs, and especially of the complexity of family perspectives and family systems. This study focused on three families from Bosnia and Herzegovina who came to Sweden and were granted permanent residence permits. The families had at least one child between 5 and 12 years old. METHOD Family therapy sessions were videotaped and verbatim transcriptions were made. Nine family therapy sessions were analysed using a qualitative method with directed content analysis. RESULTS Three main categories and ten subcategories were found - 1. Everyday life at home, with two subcategories: The family, Work and School/preschool; 2. The influence of war on everyday life, with three subcategories: The war, The escape, Reflections; 3. The new life, with five subcategories: Employment, Health, Relatives and friends, Limited future, Transition to the new life. CONCLUSIONS Health care and social welfare professionals need to find out what kind of lives refugee families have lived before coming to a new country, in order to determine individual needs of support. In this study the families had lived ordinary lives in their country of origin, and after experiencing a war situation they escaped to a new country and started a new life. They had thoughts of a limited future but also hopes of getting jobs and taking care of themselves and their families. When analysing each person's point of view one must seek an all-embracing picture of a family and its complexity to tie together the family narrative. To offer refugee families meetings with family-oriented professionals to provide the opportunity to create a family narrative is recommended for the health and social welfare sector. Using this knowledge by emphasizing the salutogenic perspectives facilitates support to refugee families and individuals. This kind of support can help refugee families to adapt to a new system of society and recapture a sense of coherence, including all three components that lead to coherence: comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness. More studies are needed to further investigate the thoughts, experiences and needs of various refugee families and how refugee receiving societies can give the most effective support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunilla Jarkman Björn
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinic, University Hospital, Linköping, S 581 83, Sweden
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Per A Gustafsson
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinic, University Hospital, Linköping, S 581 83, Sweden
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Gunilla Sydsjö
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Linköping County Council of Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Carina Berterö
- Division of Nursing Science, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping , S 581 83, Sweden
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Agnafors S, Comasco E, Bladh M, Sydsjö G, DeKeyser L, Oreland L, Svedin CG. Effect of gene, environment and maternal depressive symptoms on pre-adolescence behavior problems - a longitudinal study. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2013; 7:10. [PMID: 23518193 PMCID: PMC3615948 DOI: 10.1186/1753-2000-7-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2012] [Accepted: 03/11/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is a common and disabling condition with a high relapse frequency. Maternal mental health problems and experience of traumatic life events are known to increase the risk of behavior problems in children. Recently, genetic factors, in particular gene-by-environment interaction models, have been implicated to explain depressive etiology. However, results are inconclusive. METHODS Study participants were members of the SESBiC-study. A total of 889 mothers and their children were followed during the child's age of 3 months to 12 years. Information on maternal depressive symptoms was gathered postpartum and at a 12 year follow-up. Mothers reported on child behavior and traumatic life events experienced by the child at age 12. Saliva samples were obtained from children for analysis of 5-HTTLPR and BDNF Val66Met polymorphisms. RESULTS Multivariate analysis showed a significant association between maternal symptoms of depression and anxiety, and internalizing problems in 12-year-old children (OR 5.72, 95% CI 3.30-9.91). Furthermore, carriers of two short alleles (s/s) of the 5-HTTLPR showed a more than 4-fold increased risk of internalizing problems at age 12 compared to l/l carriers (OR 4.73, 95% CI 2.14-10.48). No gene-by-environment interaction was found and neither depressive symptoms postpartum or traumatic experiences during childhood stayed significant in the final model. CONCLUSIONS Concurrent maternal symptoms of depression and anxiety are significant risk factors for behavior problems in children, which need to be taken into account in clinical practice. Furthermore, we found a main effect of 5-HTTLPR on internalizing symptoms in 12-year-old children, a finding that needs to be confirmed in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Agnafors
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, IKE, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, S-581 85, Sweden.
| | - Erika Comasco
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, BMC, Box 593,, Uppsala, S-751 24, Sweden
| | - Marie Bladh
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology IKE, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, S-581 85, Sweden
| | - Gunilla Sydsjö
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology IKE, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, S-581 85, Sweden
| | - Linda DeKeyser
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology IKE, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, S-581 85, Sweden
| | - Lars Oreland
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, BMC, Box 593,, Uppsala, S-751 24, Sweden
| | - Carl Göran Svedin
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, IKE, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, S-581 85, Sweden
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Agnafors S, Sydsjö G, deKeyser L, Svedin CG. Symptoms of Depression Postpartum and 12 years Later-Associations to Child Mental Health at 12 years of Age. Matern Child Health J 2012; 17:405-14. [DOI: 10.1007/s10995-012-0985-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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