Abstract
This study investigated the prevalence of emotional and behavioral symptoms in unaccompanied refugee adolescents living in Italy; an area which remains under-researched despite the relatively high number of asylum seekers registered in Italy compared to other industrialized countries. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for 6–18 year-olds was completed by a social worker or parent for each of the 120 participating adolescents; sixty male unaccompanied refugee adolescents and sixty male native Italian adolescents. The paper presents findings that illustrate high levels of emotional and behavioral problems in unaccompanied refugee youth living in Italy. On all components of the CBCL, unaccompanied refugee adolescents were found to present with significantly more problems, as reported by social workers, compared to the Italian group of adolescents. In the light of these results, the importance of interventions and culturally sensitive therapeutic programs for refugee youth is discussed.
Highlights
In the first half of 2011, a significant increase in individuals requesting refugee status was reported compared to the same period in 2010
The results demonstrated that unaccompanied minors presented with depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms more frequently than accompanied refugee children
The results of this study found significant differences in Internalizing and Externalizing problems between unaccompanied refugee adolescents and native Italian adolescents; on all components of the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL), unaccompanied refugees were found to have significantly more problems than the Italian group
Summary
In the first half of 2011, a significant increase in individuals requesting refugee status was reported compared to the same period in 2010. Half of all asylum-seeking individuals are children (Bhabha & Young, 1999; UNHCR, 2012), and many of these children are unaccompanied. Unaccompanied minors have typically been forced to flee their home country to escape armed conflicts and human rights violations (Halvorsen, 2002), and have been found to suffer more from psychiatric disorders and depressive symptoms, compared to accompanied refugee children (Wiese & Burhorst, 2007). Halvorsen, 2002; Mels, Derluyn, Broekaert & Rosseel, 2010), as they experience increased danger compared to accompanied refugee children and youth, yet, are considered to be highly resilient (Betancourt & Khan, 2008) because of the adversity these young individuals survive Unaccompanied minors are frequently referred to as the most vulnerable of all refugee groups (e.g. Halvorsen, 2002; Mels, Derluyn, Broekaert & Rosseel, 2010), as they experience increased danger compared to accompanied refugee children and youth, yet, are considered to be highly resilient (Betancourt & Khan, 2008) because of the adversity these young individuals survive
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