Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Volume 36, Issue 2, 1997, Pages 224-232

Mental health problems of children of migrant and seasonal farm workers: A pilot study (Article)

Kupersmidt J.B.* , Martin S.L.
  • a Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States, CB #3270, Department of Psychology, Univ. of N. Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3270, United States
  • b Dept. of Maternal and Child Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States

Abstract

Objective: Children of migrant and seasonal farm workers constitute important populations for study because they chronically experience extreme poverty and parental unemployment. Also, migrant children are exposed to chronic residential and school mobility. Method: Mothers and children were interviewed using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version 2.1. Results: The results indicated that 66% of the children had one or more psychiatric diagnoses based on mother or child reports, with anxiety disorders being the most prevalent diagnosis. Conclusions: These findings suggest the need for a larger, epidemiological study of the psychiatric morbidity of rural children of farm workers.

Author Keywords

chronic stress child psychopathology farm worker children

Index Keywords

male anxiety neurosis female major clinical study priority journal unemployment migrant worker mother child relation Article poverty mental disease agricultural worker mental health human Child

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0031023558&doi=10.1097%2f00004583-199702000-00013&partnerID=40&md5=3c62cb0b317b02c8bc9f44645788fe41

DOI: 10.1097/00004583-199702000-00013
ISSN: 08908567
Cited by: 26
Original Language: English