- Mijnke M M Janssen: Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, Sophia Children's Hospital, 2060, 3000 CB, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare self-reported emotional and behavioral problems for Turkish immigrant, native Dutch and native Turkish adolescents.
METHOD: 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significantly higher than Dutch adolescents on five of the 11 YSR syndromes, most markedly on the Anxious/Depressed, Withdrawn and Internalizing scales.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.
CONCLUSION: 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.