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Prevalence and correlates of conduct disorder and problem behavior in Caribbean and Filipino immigrant adolescents

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Abstract

This study investigates the prevalence and subtypes of conduct disorder (CD) and behavioral problems among youth in two communities characterized by prolonged parent–child separation upon immigration. CD and problem behaviors were assessed in 252 Caribbean–Canadian and Filipino–Canadian adolescents (12–19-year-old) using the DISC-C, the YSR and the CBCL cross-informant construct. Adolescents reported less problem behaviors than their host country peers, despite immigrant background or parent–child separation. The high adolescent-onset CD rate supports the hypothesis that psychosocial stressors play a role in the emergence of the disorder. Specifically, high levels of perceived racism and low collective self-esteem predicted problem behaviors in these youngsters.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Social and Cultural Psychiatry, McGill University, Youth Mental Health CSSS de la Montagne (CLSC Parc Extension) 7085 Hutchison Room 204.2, Montreal, QC, H3N 1Y9, Canada

    Cécile Rousseau MD

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM) C.P. 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montreal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada

    Ghayda Hassan PhD

  3. Youth Mental Health CSSS de la Montagne (CLSC Parc Extension), 7085 Hutchison Room 204.2, Montreal, QC, H3N 1Y9E, Canada

    Toby Measham MD

  4. Department of Psychology, John Abbot College, 21,275 Lakeshore Road Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, QC, H9X 3L9, Canada

    Myrna Lashley PhD

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  1. Cécile Rousseau MD
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  2. Ghayda Hassan PhD
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  3. Toby Measham MD
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  4. Myrna Lashley PhD
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Correspondence to Cécile Rousseau MD.

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Rousseau, C., Hassan, G., Measham, T. et al. Prevalence and correlates of conduct disorder and problem behavior in Caribbean and Filipino immigrant adolescents. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 17, 264–273 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-007-0640-1

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