Cumulative effect of family environment on psychiatric symptomatology among multiethnic adolescents

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the influence of family adversity and support on levels of psychiatric symptomatology in Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian adolescents. Method: More than 4000 students from five high schools in Hawaii completed a survey during the 1992–1993 school year about their family environment and mental health. The response rate was approximately 60%. Logistic regression analyses were performed and responses for Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians were compared. Results: Hawaiian adolescents experienced significantly more adversity than their non-Hawaiian counterparts. The cumulative effect of family adversity had a greater effect on psychiatric symptomatology than any single indicator. Family support reduced the risk for internalizing symptoms, particularly for Hawaiian adolescents. The influence of family support was less clear for externalizing symptoms, increasing the risk for some adolescents and decreasing the risk for others. Conclusion: We identified strong associations between family adversity and levels of psychiatric symptomatology. We found that Hawaiian adolescents are at increased risk for psychiatric symptomatology, given the presence of family adversity and the effect of reduced family support. However, risk was also substantial for non-Hawaiians. Clinicians need to assess the family environment routinely and implement family-oriented interventions.