The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #42821

Violet Kaspar, PhD, Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Centre for Addcition and Mental Health, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada, 416-535-8501 x4112, violet_kaspar@camh.net and Samuel Noh, PhD, Sociology, University of Akron, 535 Polsky, Institue for Health & Social Policy, University of Akorn, Akron, OH 44325-1915.

Learning Objectives:

One in five children living in Canada and the US is an immigrant or child of immigrant parents, and the proportion of immigrant children is rising rapidly. Inconsistent research evidence, depicting both negative and positive adaptation among immigrant children points to a need for systematic research on the psychological adjustments of these youth. Using data from a case-control study in Toronto (Canada), the study examined depressive symptom levels among Korean immigrant youth (N=31
• by comparing them to the symptom levels in age- and sex- matched neighborhood controls (N=267). The self-reported depressive symptom level in the Korean sample was significantly higher than in both foreign-born and Canadian-born youth in the control sample, controlling for age, sex, race or ethnicity, nativity, and parental SES. The findings were consistent across all ages (10 to 25 years), although the magnitudes tended to diminish in older cohorts. Parental reports on youth symptoms suggested an opposite trend. Depressive symptoms were lower among Korean youths in all age and gender groups according to the parental reports. At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to work toward formulating evidence-based recommendations regarding the mental health risk of immigrant children and youth, which in turn, may assist in the formulation of enhanced health intervention programs and policies. In addition, participants will gain insight into the value of using multiple informants and neighborhood controls for evaluating the health of immigrant children and youth.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.