Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines
Volume 48, Issue 2, 2007, Pages 176-184

Development of ethnic disparities in internalizing and externalizing problems from adolescence into young adulthood (Article)

van Oort F.V.A.* , Joung I.M.A. , Mackenbach J.P. , Verhulst F.C. , Bengi-Arslan L. , Crijnen A.A.M. , van Der Ende J.
  • a Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC-Sophia, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
  • b Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
  • c Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
  • d Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC-Sophia, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
  • e Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC-Sophia, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
  • f Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC-Sophia, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
  • g Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC-Sophia, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

Background: Little is known about changes in ethnic disparities in mental health during the development of adolescents into young adults. The aim of this study was to study the development of disparities in internalizing and externalizing problems between Dutch natives and Turkish migrant children from adolescence into adulthood. Methods: Turkish migrants (n = 217) and Dutch natives (n = 723) completed two comparable questionnaires about internalizing and externalizing problems: the Youth Self-Report at age 11-18 and the (Young) Adult Self-Report ten years later, at age 21-28. We used mixed linear regression models to model development of mental health problems and to test changes in disparities in mental health between Turkish migrants and Dutch natives. Results: Both in adolescence and in adulthood migrants reported more internalizing and externalizing problems than natives, most pronounced for internalizing problems. Disparities decreased from adolescence into adulthood for both internalizing problems (-52%, p <.0001) and externalizing problems (-67%, p =.01), independently of gender, age, country of birth of Turkish adolescents, and parental socio-economic position. The favorable changes in the disparities over time were due to more favorable development among Turkish migrants than among natives. Conclusion: In this prospective study, ethnic disparities in internalizing and externalizing problems decreased as adolescents entered adulthood. Different explanations are discussed. © 2006 The Authors Journal compilation 2007 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

Author Keywords

Externalizing Internalizing disparities Development Ethnicity Behavior problems

Index Keywords

Netherlands prospective study immigrant depression anxiety disorder mental health human Self Report Ethnic Groups controlled study Turkey (republic) Mental Disorders mental disease social status school child ethnic difference Aggression Adolescent Humans male female questionnaire linear regression analysis prevalence Article behavior disorder Questionnaires adult major clinical study Turkey adulthood ethnicity delinquency Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33846672151&doi=10.1111%2fj.1469-7610.2006.01706.x&partnerID=40&md5=fc6095815ff30b13069e6485f7bd5fc2
DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2006.01706.x
ISSN: 00219630
Cited by: 18
Original Language: English