Comparison of self-reported emotional and behavioral problems in Turkish immigrant, Dutch and Turkish adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare self-reported emotional and behavioral problems for Turkish immigrant, native Dutch and native Turkish adolescents.


METHODS
A total of 379 Turkish immigrant adolescents living in the Netherlands, and 1039 Dutch adolescents from the general population completed the Dutch translation of the Youth Self-Report (YSR); 2151 Turkish adolescents from the general population completed the Turkish translation of the YSR; parents of Turkish immigrant adolescents filled in the Turkish translation of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/4-18).


RESULTS
Turkish immigrant adolescents scored themselves significantly higher than Dutch adolescents on five of the 11 YSR syndromes, most markedly on the Anxious/Depressed, Withdrawn and Internalizing scales. Dutch adolescents scored themselves higher than immigrant adolescents on the Somatic Complaints and Delinquent Behavior scales. Turkish immigrant adolescents scored themselves higher than Turkish adolescents on five of the 11 scales, most markedly on the Delinquent Behavior scale. Total problems scores for Turkish immigrant adolescents were higher than for Dutch and Turkish adolescents. Turkish immigrant adolescents scored themselves higher than their parents assessed them on seven of the 11 scales.


CONCLUSIONS
Turkish immigrant adolescents reported more problems in comparison to their Dutch and native Turkish peers. Different patterns of parent-child interaction, family values and delay of Dutch language skills are considered to be responsible for these differences in scores.
Janssen
Mijnke M M
MM
Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, Sophia Children's Hospital, 2060, 3000 CB, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Verhulst
Frank C
FC
Bengi-Arslan
Leyla
L
Erol
Nese
N
Salter
Claudia J
CJ
Crijnen
Alfons A M
AA
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002666:Psychology, Child / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology