Abstract
This study prospectively evaluates the relationship between unaccompanied status and levels of psychological distress in a group of Vietnamese Amerasians both prior to, and during, migration. Its objective was to determine whether unaccompanied migrant status functions as an independent post-departure risk factor for psychological distress, or if unaccompanied migrants are already at increased risk for, and have higher levels of, psychological distress prior to departure and the acquisition of unaccompanied status. Seventy-five Vietnamese Amerasian youth were evaluated at two points during their migration utilizing Felsman's Personal Information Form, the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25, and the Youth Self-Report. The first assessment was conducted prior to migration at the Amerasian Transit Center in Vietnam, and the second during migration at the Philippine Refugee Processing Center. Unaccompanied Amerasians were found to have significantly higher risk levels for, and significantly more symptoms of, psychological distress prior to migration than accompanied Amerasians. During migration the difference in levels of psychological distress between accompanied and unaccompanied Amerasians increased beyond that attributable to predeparture risk levels alone. This significant differential increase in levels of psychological distress among unaccompanied Amerasians is attributable to unaccompanied status. Unaccompanied migrant status thus appears to function both as an independent postdeparture risk factor for psychological distress and also as a marker for increased levels of risk and psychological distress prior to migration.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 261-266 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Social Science and Medicine |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1995 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- psychological distress
- risk factors
- unaccompanied migrants
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Health(social science)
- Economics and Econometrics
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Social Psychology
- Development
Cite this
Unaccompanied status as a risk factor in Vietnamese Amerasians. / McKelvey, Robert (Bob); Webb, John A.
In: Social Science and Medicine, Vol. 41, No. 2, 1995, p. 261-266.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Unaccompanied status as a risk factor in Vietnamese Amerasians
AU - McKelvey, Robert (Bob)
AU - Webb, John A.
PY - 1995
Y1 - 1995
N2 - This study prospectively evaluates the relationship between unaccompanied status and levels of psychological distress in a group of Vietnamese Amerasians both prior to, and during, migration. Its objective was to determine whether unaccompanied migrant status functions as an independent post-departure risk factor for psychological distress, or if unaccompanied migrants are already at increased risk for, and have higher levels of, psychological distress prior to departure and the acquisition of unaccompanied status. Seventy-five Vietnamese Amerasian youth were evaluated at two points during their migration utilizing Felsman's Personal Information Form, the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25, and the Youth Self-Report. The first assessment was conducted prior to migration at the Amerasian Transit Center in Vietnam, and the second during migration at the Philippine Refugee Processing Center. Unaccompanied Amerasians were found to have significantly higher risk levels for, and significantly more symptoms of, psychological distress prior to migration than accompanied Amerasians. During migration the difference in levels of psychological distress between accompanied and unaccompanied Amerasians increased beyond that attributable to predeparture risk levels alone. This significant differential increase in levels of psychological distress among unaccompanied Amerasians is attributable to unaccompanied status. Unaccompanied migrant status thus appears to function both as an independent postdeparture risk factor for psychological distress and also as a marker for increased levels of risk and psychological distress prior to migration.
AB - This study prospectively evaluates the relationship between unaccompanied status and levels of psychological distress in a group of Vietnamese Amerasians both prior to, and during, migration. Its objective was to determine whether unaccompanied migrant status functions as an independent post-departure risk factor for psychological distress, or if unaccompanied migrants are already at increased risk for, and have higher levels of, psychological distress prior to departure and the acquisition of unaccompanied status. Seventy-five Vietnamese Amerasian youth were evaluated at two points during their migration utilizing Felsman's Personal Information Form, the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25, and the Youth Self-Report. The first assessment was conducted prior to migration at the Amerasian Transit Center in Vietnam, and the second during migration at the Philippine Refugee Processing Center. Unaccompanied Amerasians were found to have significantly higher risk levels for, and significantly more symptoms of, psychological distress prior to migration than accompanied Amerasians. During migration the difference in levels of psychological distress between accompanied and unaccompanied Amerasians increased beyond that attributable to predeparture risk levels alone. This significant differential increase in levels of psychological distress among unaccompanied Amerasians is attributable to unaccompanied status. Unaccompanied migrant status thus appears to function both as an independent postdeparture risk factor for psychological distress and also as a marker for increased levels of risk and psychological distress prior to migration.
KW - psychological distress
KW - risk factors
KW - unaccompanied migrants
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0029008050&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0029008050&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/0277-9536(94)00314-J
DO - 10.1016/0277-9536(94)00314-J
M3 - Article
C2 - 7667687
AN - SCOPUS:0029008050
VL - 41
SP - 261
EP - 266
JO - Social Science and Medicine
JF - Social Science and Medicine
SN - 0277-9536
IS - 2
ER -