Abstract
Examining personality and psychopathological symptoms among unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs), we measured intra-individual
dimensions (repression and correlates thereof) usually associated with resilience. Forty-one URMs completed the Weinberger
Adjustment Inventory (WAI), assessing personality, and the Youth Self-Report (YSR), describing current symptoms. URMs endorsed
high levels of Repressive Defensiveness, Denial of Distress, and Restraint; unexpectedly, URMs reported high Distress and
reduced Happiness (WAI, p’s < 0.05). Although YSR symptoms were below clinical cut points, there were notable correlations between Distress and Attention
Problems, Self-destructive, and Aggressive Behavior (all on the YSR), correcting for multiple comparisons (p’s < 0.004). URMs exposed to non-normative stressors reported non-symptomatic outcomes, and high levels of personality dimensions
correlating with resilience. However, URMs also endorsed high Distress and low Happiness, calling their resilience into question.
Positive correlations between WAI Distress and YSR symptom subscales suggest that URMs harbor vulnerabilities of clinical
and forensic significance.
dimensions (repression and correlates thereof) usually associated with resilience. Forty-one URMs completed the Weinberger
Adjustment Inventory (WAI), assessing personality, and the Youth Self-Report (YSR), describing current symptoms. URMs endorsed
high levels of Repressive Defensiveness, Denial of Distress, and Restraint; unexpectedly, URMs reported high Distress and
reduced Happiness (WAI, p’s < 0.05). Although YSR symptoms were below clinical cut points, there were notable correlations between Distress and Attention
Problems, Self-destructive, and Aggressive Behavior (all on the YSR), correcting for multiple comparisons (p’s < 0.004). URMs exposed to non-normative stressors reported non-symptomatic outcomes, and high levels of personality dimensions
correlating with resilience. However, URMs also endorsed high Distress and low Happiness, calling their resilience into question.
Positive correlations between WAI Distress and YSR symptom subscales suggest that URMs harbor vulnerabilities of clinical
and forensic significance.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Article
- Pages 1-12
- DOI 10.1007/s10578-012-0308-z
- Authors
- Julia Huemer, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Sabine Völkl-Kernstock, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Niranjan Karnik, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland, MC 3077, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Katherine G. Denny, Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Miami, 5665 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Miami, FL 33146, USA
- Elisabeth Granditsch, Rohrbach Hospital, Krankenhausstraße 1, 4150 Rohrbach, Austria
- Michaela Mitterer, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Keith Humphreys, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Child Psychiatry and Child Development, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA 94305-5719, USA
- Belinda Plattner, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Forensic Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Neptunstrasse 60, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland
- Max Friedrich, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Richard J. Shaw, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Child Psychiatry and Child Development, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA 94305-5719, USA
- Hans Steiner, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Child Psychiatry and Child Development, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA 94305-5719, USA
- Journal Child Psychiatry & Human Development
- Online ISSN 1573-3327
- Print ISSN 0009-398X