International Journal of Social Psychiatry
Volume 52, Issue 1, 2006, Pages 29-40

Psychological distress among recent Russian immigrants in the United States (Article)

Hoffman C. , McFarland B.H.* , Kinzie J.D. , Bresler L. , Rakhlin D. , Wolf S. , Kovas A.E.
  • a Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD 21287, United States
  • b Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97239, United States
  • c Intercultural Psychiatry Program, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, United States
  • d Loyola Urology Department, LUMC, Maywood, IL, United States
  • e Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97239, United States
  • f Intercultural Psychiatry Program, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, United States
  • g Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97239, United States

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the psychological status of Russian immigrants who have recently come to the United States. Aims: The project included creation of a Russian version of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25) in order to identify anxiety and depression in members of the Russian-speaking immigrant population. Methods: Translation and adaptation included (a) cross-cultural adaptation; (b) translation; (c) pre-testing; and (d) analysis of validity, reliability and internal consistency. Seventeen Russian-speaking patients at a Russian psychiatric clinic were recruited for the study and were compared with a sample of 42 Russian-speaking members of the community. Results: The instrument showed internal consi stency when evaluated with coefficient alpha. Clinic patients had significantly higher anxiety and depression symptom scores than community subjects. Russian immigrants' scores on the anxiety and depression scales were less than comparative data for the United States and notably less than similar measures for Russian immigrants to Israel. Conclusions: Recent Russian immigrants to the United States appear to have low prevalences of anxiety and depression. Copyright © 2006 Sage Publications.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

anxiety statistical analysis cultural anthropology symptomatology immigrant depression anxiety disorder mental health service human middle aged validation process Stress, Psychological controlled study Aged geographic distribution USSR Depressive Disorder Health Surveys language statistical significance interview United States Humans Adolescent male female reliability population distribution adaptive behavior Reproducibility of Results population research prevalence Psychometrics scoring system Article major clinical study adult migration distress syndrome Emigration and Immigration Russian Federation
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-31844446083&doi=10.1177%2f0020764006061252&partnerID=40&md5=4ba941f2d284b30b3725ab4197540ceb
DOI: 10.1177/0020764006061252
ISSN: 00207640
Cited by: 17
Original Language: English