title: Mental health in migrant schoolchildren in Italy: teacher-reported behavior and emotional problems.
abstract: The migration process is a cause of physical and social stressors that may lead to mental health problems, particularly in children. In Italy, there are few studies about migrant children's mental health; thus, the aim of this study is to compare the prevalence and types of emotional and behavioral problems in migrant schoolchildren to those of native Italian children. The research involved migrant (first- and second-generation) and native schoolchildren attending kindergarten, primary, and secondary school. A questionnaire was administered to parents to collect information about the sociodemographic characteristics of the children. All teachers filled in the Teacher's Report Form for migrant and native children. The findings show that teachers detect academic and adaptive problems more easily in migrant schoolchildren, but they are probably less aware of the children's psychological problems. The observations made in this study provide a starting point in understanding the psychological status and main problems noted among migrant children.
authors: Unit of Child Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neuroscience and Sensory Organs, University of "Aldo Moro," Bari, Italy.
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Margari
authors: Floriana
authors: F
authors: Pinto
authors: Maria Elena
authors: ME
authors: Lafortezza
authors: Paola Alessandra
authors: PA
authors: Lecce
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Craig
authors: Ignazio
authors: I
authors: Grattagliano
authors: Giuseppina
authors: G
authors: Zagaria
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Margari
keywords: adaptive troubles; emotional problems; mental health; migrant children; teacher report