Assessment of Child and Adolescent Migrants to Australia: A Crosscultural Comparison

Abstract

This study examines whether young migrants, differentiated by cultural background, (a) vary in their experience of cultural adjustment, emotional distress, levels of self-esteem, and coping ability, and (b) how they compare with Australian students on measures of self-esteem and coping ability. One hundred and seventy-three students differentiated by cultural origin (former-Yugoslavian, Chinese, Mixed-culture, and Australian) and school level (primary and high school) were recruited at random from public schools in South East Queensland. Students completed measures of cultural adjustment (Bicultural Involvement Questionnaire), anxiety and trauma (Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale, Trauma Symptom Checklist), self-esteem (Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), and coping ability (Coping Scale for Children and Adolescents). The main findings from this study indicate that culturally diverse groups residing in Australia vary in their experience of cultural adaptation, level of self-esteem, and symptoms of emotional distress, illustrating culture-specific strengths and weaknesses among young non-English speaking (NESB) students. This study reveals information on how culturally diverse migrants acculturate, the type and severity of symptoms they experience, and their capacity to cope in stressful situations. The need for culture-specific early intervention and prevention programs is discussed.

The Importance of Literacy in the Home Language

“…Assimilation, in addition to eliminating cultural richness in society, “can result in lowered self-esteem, poor self-concept and cultural alienation” (Olivier, 2011, p. 22), not only from the in-group but also from the community at large. While the exact mix of contributing factors is still unclear, Barrett, Sonderegger, and Sonderegger (2002) have shown that "Australian adolescents exhibit greater overall self-esteem than young migrants” (p. 229). They discuss the need for culture-specific early-intervention and prevention programs.…”

Sudanese Adolescent Refugees: Acculturation and Acculturative Stress

“…In the literature on adolescent resilience and wellbeing, the increasing number of studies on ethnic and immigrant groups acknowledges the need for greater cultural awareness (Barrett, Sonderegger, & Sonderegger, 2002;Brough, Gorman, Ramirez, & Westoby, 2003;D'Anastasi & Frydenberg, 2005;Phinney, Horenczyk, Liebkind, & Vedder, 2001). Sudanese refugees currently form the largest humanitarian group of immigrants in Australia, yet although there has been investigation of adult Sudanese experiences of migration (Schweitzer, 2006;Schweitzer, Kagee, & Greenslade, 2006), to the authors' knowledge, no such study of Sudanese adolescents has yet been published.…”

Refugee Children and Interventions for Depression: A Review of Current Interventions and Implications of the Ecological Context

“…Refugee children living in communities with similar cultural backgrounds may be less likely to suffer from mental illness including depression (Davidson et al, 2008). However, contrasting research suggests that refugee families living in monoethnic communities experience greater acculturation difficulties (Barrett et al, 2002), which could also increase the risk of depression (Keles et al, 2016). The degree to which children can balance their ethnic identity and the host nation’s culture may be an important process for understanding the relationship between acculturation and depression.…”