Use of the Brief Symptom Inventory to Assess Psychological Distress in Three Immigrant Groups

Abstract

This paper examined the internal consistency reliability of two newly developed alternate language versions of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) (This is not the Bradford Somatic Inventory, which is also known as the BSI) when used with Polish and Filipino immigrants and the original versions of the BSI and its parent instrument, the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) when used with Irish immigrants; and, the theoretical and criterion related validity of the Psychoticism subscale of the BSI for Polish, Filipino, and Irish immigrants. Internal consistency estimates and triangulation of individual BSI global and subscale scores with verbal self-reports and clinical assessments demonstrated that the BSI is a relatively reliable and valid cross-cultural measure of psychological distress. However, problems with the Psychoticism subscale occurred across all three immigrant groups, which suggested that this subscale should be interpreted with caution when used with immigrants.

Relationship between Job Dissatisfaction and Physical and Psychological Health among Filipino Immigrants

“…Higher scores signified greater distress symptoms. Versions of the SCL-90-R have also been used cross-culturally in studies involving minority and immigrant samples, both internationally and in the United States (Aroian, Patsdaughter, Levin, & Gianan, 1995;Asner-Self, Schreiber, & Marotta, 2006;Bech et al, 1992;Takeuchi, Kuo, Kim, Leen, & Leaf, 1989;Zheng, Xu, & Shen, 1986).…”

Psychological Health and Meaning in Life: Stress, Social Support, and Religious Coping in Latina and Latino Immigrants

“…A recent study of Latinos by Thoman and Suris (2004) Lee & Liu, 2003). Additionally, the BSI global and subscale scores seemed to be reliable and culturally appropriate measure of psychological distress in immigrant populations (Aroian, Patsdaughter, Levin, & Gianan, 1995). The overall reading level of the BSI is sixth grade (Derogatis, 1993).…”

A longitudinal comparative study of the physical and mental health problems of affected residents of the firework disaster Enschede, The Netherlands

“…However, most of the instruments are used around the world in different ethnic groups and have been found to be reliable. 22,33 In this study we included a control group with a similar distribution of immigrant groups than in the affected group. Therefore, it is unlikely that differences between the affected and control group in health problems could be attributed to differences in culture.…”