Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Predicting externalizing problems in Moroccan immigrant adolescents in the Netherlands

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Although an increasing proportion of the population in Western countries originates from non-Western parts of the world, little research has been conducted on predictors of externalizing problems in immigrant adolescent samples. This study on the predictors of externalizing problems in Moroccan immigrant adolescents in the Netherlands was aimed to contribute to the knowledge in this field.

Methods

We obtained 415 parent-reports, 376 self-reports and 238 teacher-reports on problem behavior in a general population sample of randomly selected 11- to 18-year-old Moroccan immigrant adolescents, using the Child Behavior Checklist, Youth Self-Report and Teacher’s Report Form.

Results

The data revealed a clear relation between externalizing problems and several child (gender, internalizing problems), proximal family (parental monitoring and affection, support from father and mother, and parent–child conflict), contextual family (conflicts between parents about parenting, destructive communication between parents, and total number of life-events), school/peer (problems at school, involvement with deviant peers, hanging out), and migration variables (adolescent’s perceived discrimination). Hardly any association was observed between externalizing problems and parental psychopathology, and between externalizing problems and global family variables (e.g., family employment level). Most findings matched results found in earlier studies on non-immigrant youth.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that the child, school/peer, and proximal family factors are essential in models predicting the development of externalizing behavior. The impact of the migration factor on externalizing problems turned out to be relatively small.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Achenbach TM (1991a) Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist/4–18 and 1991 profile. University of Vermont Department of Psychiatry, Burlington VT

    Google Scholar 

  2. Achenbach TM (1991b) Manual for the TRF and 1991 profile. University of Vermont Department of Psychiatry, Burlington VT

    Google Scholar 

  3. Achenbach TM (1991c) Manual for the Youth self-Report and 1991 profile. University of Vermont Department of Psychiatry, Burlington, VT

    Google Scholar 

  4. Amato PR, Keith B (1991) Parental divorce and the well-being of children: a meta-analysis. Psychol Bull 110:26–46

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Bengi-Arslan L, Verhulst FC, Van der Ende J, Erol N (1997) Understanding childhood (problem) behaviors from a cultural perspective: comparison of problem behaviors and competencies in Turkish immigrant, Turkish and Dutch children. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 32(8):477–484

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Bongers IL, Koot HM, Van der Ende J, Verhulst FC (2003) The normative development of child and adolescent problem behavior. J Abnorm Psychol 112:179–192

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Bradley RH, Corwyn RF (2002) Socioeconomic status and child development. Annu Rev Psychol 53:371–399

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Bronfenbrenner U (1986) Ecology of the family as a context for human development: research perspectives. Dev Psychol 22:723–742

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Brown BB, Mounts N, Lamborn SD, Steinberg L (1993) Parenting practices and peer group affiliation in adolescence. Child Dev 64:467–482

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Buehler C, Gerard JM (2002) Marital conflict, ineffective parenting, and children’s and adolescents’ maladjustment. J Marriage Fam 64:78–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Burt SA, Krueger RF, McGue M, Lacono W (2003) Parent–child conflict and the comorbidity among childhood externalizing disorders. Arch Gen Psychiatry 60:505–513

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Cohen J (1988) Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences, 2. Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ

    Google Scholar 

  13. Crijnen AAM, Achenbach TM, Verhulst FC (1997) Comparisons of problems reported by parents of children in 12 cultures: Total Problems, Externalizing, and Internalizing. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psych 36(9):1269–1277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Darwish Murad S, Joung IMA, Verhulst FC, Mackenbach JP, Crijnen AAM (2004) Determinants of self-reported emotional and behavioral problems in Turkish immigrant adolescents aged 11–18. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 39(3):196–207

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Deater Deckard K, Dodge KA, Bates JE, Pettit GS (1998) Multiple risk factors in the development of externalizing behavior problems: group and individual differences. Dev Psychopathol 10:469–493

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. De Graaf R, Ten Have M, Van Dorsselaer S, Vollebergh W (2004) Ethnicity in studies on psychiatric disorders (in Dutch). Trimbos institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  17. Dekovic M (1999) Parent–adolescent conflict: possible determinants and consequences. Int J Behav Dev 23:977–1000

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Dekovic M, Janssens JMAM, Van As NMC (2003) Family predictors of antisocial behavior in adolescence. Fam Proc 42:223–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. De Valk HAG, Esveldt I, Henkens K, Liefbroer AC (2001) Old and new migrants in the Netherlands: a demographic profile (in Dutch). WRR Werkdocumenten no. W123. The Hague, the Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  20. Dishion TJ, French DC, Patterson GR (1995) The development and ecology of antisocial behavior. In: Cicchetti D, Cohen DJ (eds) Developmental psychopathology. Risk, disorder, and adaptation, vol. 2. Wiley, Oxford, UK, pp 421–471

    Google Scholar 

  21. Dumka LE, Roosa MW, Jackson KM (1997) Risk, conflict, mothers’ parenting, and children’s adjustment in low-income, Mexican immigrant, and Mexican American families. J Marriage Fam 59:309–323

    Google Scholar 

  22. Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics (2000) Statline. Retrieved Februari 14, 2004, from http://www.statline.cbs.nl/

  23. Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics (2001) Statline. Retrieved January 21, 2003, from http://www.statline.cbs.nl/

  24. Erickson KG, Crosnoe R, Dornbusch SM (2000) A social process model of adolescent deviance: combining social control and differential association perspectives. J Youth Adolesc 29:395–425

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Felner RD, Brand S, DuBois DL, Adan AM, Mulhall PF, Evans EG (1995) Socioeconomic disadvantage, proximal environmental experiences, and socioemotional and academic adjustment in early adolescence: investigation of a mediated effects model. Child Dev 66:774–792

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Fisher PA, Storck M, Bacon JG (1999) In the eye of the beholder: risk and protective factors in rural American Indian and Caucasian adolescents. Am J Orthopsychiatr 69:294–304

    Google Scholar 

  27. Galambos NL, Maggs JL (1991) Out-of-school care of young adolescents and self-reported behavior. Dev Psychol 27:644–655

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Gerris JRM, Boxtel DAAM, Vermulst AA, Janssens JMAM, Van Zutphen RAH, Felling AJA (1993) Child-rearing and family in the Netherlands. ITS, Nijmegen, the Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  29. Goldberg DP, Williams P (1988) A users’ guide to the General Health Questionnaire. Nfer Nelson, Windsor, Canada

    Google Scholar 

  30. Goodyer IM (1993) Recent stressful life events: their long term effects. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  31. Gortmaker SL, Walker DK, Weitzman M, Sobol AM (1990) Chronic conditions, socioeconomic risks, and behavioral problems in children and adolescents. Pediatrics 85:267–276

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Groenendaal JHA, Dekovic M, Noom MJ (1996) Family characteristics. In: Rispens J, Hermanns JMA, Meeus W (eds) Parenting in the Netherlands (in Dutch). Van Gorcum, Assen, the Netherlands, pp 95–113

    Google Scholar 

  33. Guarnaccia PJ, Lopez S (1998) The mental health and adjustment of immigrant and refugee children. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am 7:537–553

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Harter S (1985) Manual for the Social Support Scale for Children. University of Denver, Denver CO

    Google Scholar 

  35. Hops H, Biglan A, Sherman L, Arthur J, Friedman L, Osteen V (1987) Home observations of family interactions of depressed women. J Consult Clin Psychol 55:341–346

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Junger M, Marshall IH (1997) The interethnic generalizability of social control theory: an empirical test. J Res Crime Delinq 34:79–112

    Google Scholar 

  37. Kaslow NJ, Deering CG, Racusin GR (1994) Depressed children and their families. Clin Psychol Rev 14:39–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Keenan K, Loeber R, Zhang Q, Stouthamer Loeber M (1995) The influence of deviant peers on the development of boys’ disruptive and delinquent behavior: a temporal analysis. Dev Psychopathol 7:715–726

    Google Scholar 

  39. Kim JE, Hetherington EM, Reiss D (1999) Associations among family relationships, antisocial peers, and adolescents’ externalizing behaviors: gender and family type differences. Child Dev 70:1209–1230

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Kvernmo S, Heyerdahl S (2003) Acculturation strategies and ethnic identity as predictors of behavior problems in arctic minority adolescents. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psych 42:57–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Lahey BB, Waldman ID, McBurnett K (1999) Annotation: the development of antisocial behavior: an integrative causal model. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 40:669–682

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Lahey BB, Schwab Stone M, Goodman SH, Waldman ID, Canino G, Rathouz PJ, Miller TL, Dennis KD, Bird H, Jensen PS (2000) Age and gender differences in oppositional behavior and conduct problems: a cross-sectional household study of middle childhood and adolescence. J Abnorm Psychology 109:488–503

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Liebkind K, Jasinskaja Lahti I (2000) Acculturation and psychological well-being among immigrant adolescents in Finland: a comparative study of adolescents from different cultural backgrounds. J Adolesc Res 15:446–469

    Google Scholar 

  44. Lilienfeld SO (2003) Comorbidity between and within childhood externalizing and internalizing disorders: reflections and directions. J Abnorm Child Psychol 31:285–291

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. McCreary ML, Slavin LA, Berry EJ (1996) Predicting problem behavior and self-esteem among African American adolescents. J Adolesc Res 11:216–234

    Google Scholar 

  46. Mghir R, Freed W, Raskin A, Katon W (1995) Depression and posttraumatic stress disorder among a community sample of adolescent and young adult Afghan refugees. J Nerv Ment Dis 183:24–30

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Moffitt TE, Caspi A, Rutter M, Silva PA (2001) Sex differences in antisocial behaviour: conduct disorder, delinquency, and violence in the Dunedin longitudinal study. Cambridge University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  48. Mordoch E, Hall WA (2002) Children living with a parent who has a mental illness: a critical analysis of the literature and research implications. Arch Psychiatr Nurs 16:208–216

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Pawliuk N, Grizenko N, Chan-Yip A, Gantous P, Mathew J, Nguyen D (1996) Acculturation style and psychological functioning in children of immigrants. Am J Orthopsychiatr 66:111–121

    Google Scholar 

  50. Pels D (2003) The spirit of Pim. The vision of a political dandy (in Dutch). Anthos, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  51. Pels T (2003) The question of respect. Socialisation and misconduct of Moroccan boys in the Netherlands (in Dutch). Neth J Soc Sci 39(2):126–142

    Google Scholar 

  52. Pels T, De Haan M (2003) Continuity and change in Moroccan socialization: a review of the literature on socialization in Morocco and among Moroccan families in the Netherlands. University of Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  53. Pettit GS, Bates JE, Dodge KA, Meece DW (1999) The impact of after-school peer contact on early adolescent externalizing problems is moderated by parental monitoring, perceived neighborhood safety, and prior adjustment. Child Dev 70:768–778

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Phalet K, Van Lotringen C, Entzinger H (2000) Islam in the multicultural society: adolescent views in Rotterdam (in Dutch). ERCOMER, Utrecht, the Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  55. Reicher H (1993) Family and peer relations and social–emotional problems in adolescence. Stud Psychol 35:403–408

    Google Scholar 

  56. Rupp DE, Vodanovich SJ (1997) The role of boredom proneness in self-reported anger and aggression. J Soc Behav Pers 12:925–936

    Google Scholar 

  57. Sam DL, Berry JW (1995) Acculturative stress among young immigrants in Norway. Scand J Psychol 36:10–24

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Samaniego RY, Gonzales NA (1999) Multiple mediators of the effects of acculturation status on delinquency for Mexican American adolescents. Am J Community Psychol 27:189–210

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Simons RL, Murry V, McLoyd V, Lin KH, Cutrona C, Conger RD (2002) Discrimination, crime, ethnic identity, and parenting as correlates of depressive symptoms among African American children: a multilevel analysis. Dev Psychopathol 14:371–393

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Sluzki MD (1979) Migration and family conflict. Fam Proc 18:379–390

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. Smith C, Krohn MD (1995) Delinquency and family life among male adolescents: the role of ethnicity. J Youth Adolesc 24:69–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Sowa H, Crijnen AAM, Bengi-Arslan L, Verhulst FC (2000) Factors associated with problem behaviors in Turkish immigrant children in the Netherlands. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 35:177–184

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Stevens GWJM, Pels T, Bengi-Arslan L, Verhulst FC, Vollebergh WAM, Crijnen AAM (2003) Parent, teacher and self reported problem behavior in the Netherlands: comparing Moroccan immigrant with Dutch and with Turkish immigrant children and adolescents. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 38:576–585

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Stevens GWJM, Pels T, Vollebergh WAM, Crijnen AAM (2004) Patterns of psychological acculturation in adult and adolescent Moroccan immigrants living in the Netherlands. J Cross-Cult Psychol 35:689–704

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. Stevens GWJM, Vollebergh WAM, Pels TVM, Crijnen AAM (in submission) Parenting and emotional and behavioral problems in Moroccan immigrant youth in the Netherlands

  66. Van Gemert F (1998) Every man for himself: chances, culture and criminality of Moroccan boys (in Dutch). Het Spinhuis, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  67. Verhulst FC, Van der Ende J, Koot HM (1996) Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist (in Dutch). Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  68. Verhulst FC, Van der Ende J, Koot HM (1997a) Manual for the Teacher’s Report Form (in Dutch). Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  69. Verhulst FC, Van der Ende J, Koot H (1997b) Manual for the Youth Self-Report (in Dutch). Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  70. Verkuyten M (1998) Perceived discrimination and self-esteem among ethnic minority adolescents. J Soc Psychol 138:479–493

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Weiss SJ, Goebel P, Page A, Wilson P, Warda M (1999) The impact of cultural and familial context on behavioral and emotional problems of preschool Latino children. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 29:287–301

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Weisz JR, Eastman KL (1995) Cross-national research on child and adolescent psychopathology. In: Verhulst FC, Koot HM (eds) The epidemiology of child and adolescent psychopathology. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, pp 42–65

    Google Scholar 

  73. Windle M (1992) A longitudinal study of stress buffering for adolescent problem behaviors. Dev Psychol 28:522–530

    Article  Google Scholar 

  74. Zahn-Waxler C (1993) Warriors and worriers: gender and psychopathology. Dev Psychopathol 5:79–89

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by NWO (Dutch Organisation for Scientific Research). The authors would very much like to thank the parents, adolescents and teachers who participated in this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC/Sophia, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

    Gonneke W. J. M. Stevens & Alfons A. M. Crijnen

  2. Trimbos Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands

    Wilma A. M. Vollebergh

  3. Verwey-Jonker Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands

    Trees V. M. Pels

  4. Clinical Child and Adolescent Studies, University of Leiden, P.O. Box 9555, 2300 RB, Leiden, the Netherlands

    Gonneke W. J. M. Stevens & Wilma A. M. Vollebergh

Authors
  1. Gonneke W. J. M. Stevens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Wilma A. M. Vollebergh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Trees V. M. Pels
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Alfons A. M. Crijnen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gonneke W. J. M. Stevens.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stevens, G.W.J.M., Vollebergh, W.A.M., Pels, T.V.M. et al. Predicting externalizing problems in Moroccan immigrant adolescents in the Netherlands. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 40, 571–579 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-005-0926-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-005-0926-x

Key words

Search

Navigation