To understand mental health problems of childhood, and corresponding clinical referral patterns, may require knowledge of the impact of culture. Culturally mediated values, and concomitant child-rearing practices, may influence the kinds of behavior problems children show. Cultural values may also influence adult attitudes toward child problems, with certain types of problems regarded as more serious and more in need of professional intervention in some cultures than in others. Adult attitudes are particularly important because it is adults (usually parents, teachers, or clinicians)--not children themselves--who make child referral decisions. The proposed research is designed to explore cultural differences in both prevalence patterns and adult attitudes. Some 118 clinically significant problem behaviors will be studied in all, but the pricipal focus will be on problems falling within two empirically-derived, broad-band child syndromes: Internalizing (e.g., worrying, somaticizing) and Externalizing (e.g., aggression, disobedience). The research will compare two cultures that appear to differ markedly in their orientation toward Internalizing and Externalizing child behavior. In contrast to U.S. culture, the heavily Buddhist, highly pacific culture of Thailand appears to condone and perhaps encourage diverse Internalizing behaviors, but actively discourage diverse Externalizing behaviors in children, especially boys. In the proposed research, Thai and U.S. patterns are to be compared in two ways. The Prevalence Study will address the question of whether child problems (Internalizing, Externalizing, and other) differ in prevalence across the two cultures and as a function of age and gender. Parents and teachers of Thai boys and girls aged 6-7, 8-9, and 10-11, will rate the children, using the Child Behavior Checklist; these ratings will be compared to parent and teacher ratings for U.S. children of the same gender and age. The Adult Attitudes Study will explore adult attitudes toward Internalizing and Externalizing behavior patterns as a function of culture and child gender. In Thailand and the U.S., parents, teachers, and clinical psychologists who work with children will rate the seriousness (e.g., likelihood of spontaneous improvement, need for treatment) of Internalizing and Externalizing problem patterns as presented in vignettes describing either boys or girls of their culture.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01MH038240-04
Application #
3376552
Study Section
Mental Health Behavioral Sciences Research Review Committee (BSR)
Project Start
1983-09-15
Project End
1992-06-30
Budget Start
1987-07-01
Budget End
1988-06-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
078861598
City
Chapel Hill
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27599
Weisz, John R; Weiss, Bahr; Suwanlert, Somsong et al. (2006) Culture and youth psychopathology: testing the syndromal sensitivity model in Thai and American adolescents. J Consult Clin Psychol 74:1098-107
Weisz, John R; Weiss, Bahr; Suwanlert, Somsong et al. (2003) Syndromal structure of psychopathology in children of Thailand and the United States. J Consult Clin Psychol 71:375-85
McCarty, C A; Weisz, J R; Wanitromanee, K et al. (1999) Culture, coping, and context: primary and secondary control among Thai and American youth. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 40:809-18
Weisz, J R; McCarty, C A (1999) Can we trust parent reports in research on cultural and ethnic differences in child psychopathology? Using the bicultural family design to test parental culture effects. J Abnorm Psychol 108:598-605
Weisz, J R; Han, S S; Valeri, S M (1997) More of what? Issues raised by the Fort Bragg study. Am Psychol 52:541-5
Weisz, J R; Chaiyasit, W; Weiss, B et al. (1995) A multimethod study of problem behavior among Thai and American children in school: teacher reports versus direct observations. Child Dev 66:402-15
Weisz, J R; Donenberg, G R; Han, S S et al. (1995) Bridging the gap between laboratory and clinic in child and adolescent psychotherapy. J Consult Clin Psychol 63:688-701
Weisz, J R; Donenberg, G R; Han, S S et al. (1995) Child and adolescent psychotherapy outcomes in experiments versus clinics: why the disparity? J Abnorm Child Psychol 23:83-106
Weisz, J R; McCabe, M A; Dennig, M D (1994) Primary and secondary control among children undergoing medical procedures: adjustment as a function of coping style. J Consult Clin Psychol 62:324-32
Weisz, J R; Suwanlert, S; Chaiyasit, W et al. (1993) Behavioral and emotional problems among Thai and American adolescents: parent reports for ages 12-16. J Abnorm Psychol 102:395-403

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