Comprehensive Psychiatry
Volume 41, Issue 4, 2000, Pages 289-294

Changes in psychological symptoms during the adjustment of recent immigrants (Article)

Ponizovsky A.* , Ritsner M. , Modai I.
  • a Psychiatric Epidemiology Research U., Talbieh Mental Health Center, Jerusalem, Israel, Institute for Psychiatric Studies, Sha'ar Menashe Mental Health Center, Mobile Post Hefer 38814, Hadera, Israel, Department of Psychiatry, Hebrew Univ.-Hadassah Med. Sch., Jerusalem, Israel, Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
  • b Psychiatric Epidemiology Research U., Talbieh Mental Health Center, Jerusalem, Israel, Institute for Psychiatric Studies, Sha'ar Menashe Mental Health Center, Mobile Post Hefer 38814, Hadera, Israel, Department of Psychiatry, Hebrew Univ.-Hadassah Med. Sch., Jerusalem, Israel, Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
  • c Psychiatric Epidemiology Research U., Talbieh Mental Health Center, Jerusalem, Israel, Institute for Psychiatric Studies, Sha'ar Menashe Mental Health Center, Mobile Post Hefer 38814, Hadera, Israel, Department of Psychiatry, Hebrew Univ.-Hadassah Med. Sch., Jerusalem, Israel, Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel

Abstract

In the present study, we sought to compare the number, severity, and frequency of psychological symptoms and the intensity of perceived stressors among immigrants with previously identified positive, negative, or normal patterns of distress. We evaluated 199 recent immigrants from the former Soviet Union to Israel using the Talbieh Brief Distress Inventory (TBDI) and the Perceived Immigration-Related Stressors Scale (PIRSS) with a 1-year follow-up period. As predicted, the number, severity, and frequency of psychological symptoms and the intensity of perceived stress factors vary among immigrants showing different distress patterns. A negative pattern was associated with an increase in the total number, severity, and frequency of distress-related symptoms and persisting cultural-related stress over time. A positive pattern was associated with a reduction in the overall number and severity of symptoms, as well as a decline in the frequency of distress-free symptoms and the intensity of all but informational-related stressors. A normal pattern was characterized by the reduction of distress symptoms within a normal range along with material- and health-related stresses. Our findings confirm the validity of the suggested classification for different patterns of distress and its usefulness in establishing the prognosis for the adjustment of immigrantS. Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

male rating scale mental stress female major clinical study immigrant symptomatology disease severity adjustment adult cultural factor psychological aspect Article mental disease human wellbeing comorbidity
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0034235305&doi=10.1053%2fcomp.2000.7433&partnerID=40&md5=17a944b1911c26a7156c6c0c0ae70688
DOI: 10.1053/comp.2000.7433
ISSN: 0010440X
Cited by: 13
Original Language: English