The Mental Health and Well-Being of Adolescent Children of Cambodian Refugees

这项为期4年的研究申请资金，用于对美国出生的难民儿童的心理健康和福祉进行首次系统调查。自1980年以来，美国已经接纳了大约240万难民。这些难民在适应美国生活时遇到了无数挑战，在移民前的创伤和暴力之后，精神疾病的发病率非常高。最近的数据表明，难民的这些心理社会问题可能在抵达美国后持续数十年。这些情况可能给难民儿童成为心理健康、有生产力的成年人带来重大障碍。具体来说，他们可能面临一些健康和社会问题的风险，包括心理障碍，物质使用，危险的健康行为和学术脱离。科学界继续忽视第二代难民的命运，可能会给儿童和整个社会带来巨大的公共卫生成本。问题的关键在于，这一大群难民后代能否成为健康、有生产力的成年人，能够充分利用美国提供的机会。我们建议研究美国出生的柬埔寨难民儿童的心理健康和福祉，柬埔寨难民是美国最大的难民群体之一。拟议中的研究将在加利福尼亚州的长滩进行，那里是美国最大的柬埔寨难民社区。数据将通过与大约350名美国出生的柬埔寨难民青少年（10 - 12年级）及其父母进行面对面访谈来收集。与长滩联合学区（LBUSD）的合作将使家庭使用LBUSD提供的联系信息随机选择。该申请有三个主要目的：1）。描述在美国出生的柬埔寨难民儿童的心理健康和福祉。我们还将设法确定特别高风险的亚组。感兴趣的领域包括心理健康，物质使用，行为问题，危险的健康行为和学术成就。这组青少年的状况将与使用相同措施的全国代表性研究的人口标准进行比较。2）。确定在美国出生的柬埔寨难民子女的心理健康和福祉是否因父母的心理健康而有所不同。3）。评估目前对精神卫生和社会服务的利用情况，对特定服务的需求，以及接受这些服务的障碍。单独的分析将针对量化父母和儿童服务的利用率，感知的需求和障碍。公共卫生相关性：来自各种来源的证据表明，在美国出生的难民子女可能面临心理健康和相关心理问题的风险。这项拟议中的研究将构成对美国出生的柬埔寨难民儿童心理健康和福祉的首次系统研究，柬埔寨难民是最大的难民群体之一。调查结果将为旨在为难民儿童提供福利的公共卫生政策和做法提供信息。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed 4 year study requests funds to conduct the first systematic investigation of the mental health and well-being of US-born children of refugees. Since 1980, the US has admitted approximately 2.4 million refugees. These refugees encounter myriad challenges adjusting to life in the US, and have very high rates of mental illness following pre-migration trauma and violence. Recent data indicate that these psychosocial problems of refugees can persist several decades after arrival in the US. These circumstances may present the children of refugees with significant obstacles to becoming psychologically healthy, productive adults. Specifically, they may be at risk for several health and social problems, including psychological disorders, substance use, risky health behaviors, and academic disengagement. Continued scientific inattention to the fate of second generation refugees may have enormous public health costs for both the children and society as a whole. At stake is the capacity of this large group of refugee offspring to become healthy, productive adults, able to take full advantage of opportunities available in the US. We propose to study the mental health and well-being of the US-born children of Cambodian refugees, one of the largest groups of US refugees. The proposed study would take place in Long Beach, CA, home to the largest single community of Cambodian refugees in the US. Data would be collected by conducting face-to-face interviews with approximately 350 US- born adolescent (10th-12th grade) children of Cambodian refugees as well as their parents. Collaboration with the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) will enable a random selection of families using contact information provided by the LBUSD. The proposed application has three broad aims: 1). To characterize US-born children of Cambodian refugees with respect to mental health and well-being. We will also seek to identify subgroups at particularly high risk. Domains of interest include mental health, substance use, behavioral problems, risky health behavior, and academic achievement. The status this group of adolescents will be compared to population norms from nationally representative studies using the same measures. 2). To determine whether the mental health and well-being of US-born children of Cambodian refugees differs as a function of the mental health of their parents. 3). To assess current utilization of mental health and social services, perceived need for specific services, and the barriers to receiving these services. Separate analyses will be directed at quantifying both parental and child service utilization, perceived need, and barriers. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Evidence from various sources suggests that the US-born children of refugees may be at risk for mental health and related psychosocial problems. The proposed research would constitute the first systematic study of the mental health and well-being of US- born children of Cambodian refugees, one of the largest groups of refugees. Results would inform public health policies and practices aimed at providing for the well-being of children of refugees.