European Journal of Psychiatry
Volume 14, Issue 2, 2000, Pages 95-103

Psychological problems of native and immigrant adolescent students in a Greek town (Article)

Livaditis M.* , Zafiriadis K. , Samakouri M. , Xenitidis K. , Gizari F. , Tzavaras N.
  • a Dept. of Psychiatry Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece, Dept. of Psychiatry Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece
  • b [Affiliation not available]
  • c Psychiat. U. Dist. Gen. Hosp. A., Alexandroupolis, Greece
  • d [Affiliation not available]
  • e Psychiat. U. Dist. Gen. Hosp. A., Alexandroupolis, Greece
  • f [Affiliation not available]

Abstract

Studies on the effect of migration on the mental health of the adolescent immigrants are inconclusive. The aim of this paper was to study the psychological state of juvenile Greekpontians, who migrated from ex- Soviet Union to Greece. 48 immigrant highschool students and 300 native peers completed the Youth Self Report (Y.S.R.) (Achenbach, 1991), a psychological test measuring competence and problem areas. The mental health profile of the immigrants' group was better compared to the local native group. The immigrants group scored lower (i.e. reported fewer problems) on the following to problem scales: somatic complaints, anxiety/depression, attention problems; delinquent behaviour, aggressive behaviour, internalizing, externalizing, total problem for females and aggressive behaviour for both males and females. Having considered selection bias in the process of immigration and social desirability bias ('reactive overcompliance') in the process of questionaire response, the authors conclude with the generation of the hypothesis that a likely explanation for this phenomenon may be a favourable balance between stressful migration events and protective mechanisms.

Author Keywords

Psychological problems immigrants Y.S.R. Adolescence

Index Keywords

male controlled study female Greece questionnaire clinical article psychologic test Article mental health human adult migration Adolescent
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0033938306&partnerID=40&md5=9120064ae36654489bb8847e6852336c
ISSN: 02136163
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English