Acculturation and mental health: A study of Hmong refugees at 1.5 and 3.5 years postmigration
Author(s):
Westermeyer, Joseph; Neider, John; Vang, Tou F.
Format:
Journal article
Citation:
Social Science & Medicine, Volume 18, Issue 1 (1984). pp. 87-93.
Language:
English
Abstract:
Examined changes on self-reported symptoms among 83 Hmong refugees (aged 16+ yrs) in Minnesota over a 2-yr period. Premigration and postmigration factors were studied along with responses to the SCL-90 and a self-rating scale for depression. Findings show considerable improvement on psychiatric self-rating scales in the areas of depression, psychoticism, and phobic anxiety. Social changes over the 2-yr interim (including a high unemployment rate) were few. Earlier premigration and postmigration variables that were correlated with high symptom levels at 1.5 yrs such as older age, gender, and number of hospital visits in the US were not correlated with these symptoms at 3.5 yrs. Events in the acculturation process which accompany and perhaps account for some of these observations are indicated. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)