Skip to main content
Full access
Brief Reports
Published Online: February 2013

Prevalence of Mental Health and Behavioral Problems Among Adolescents in Institutional Care in Jordan

Abstract

Objectives:

This study aimed to establish the prevalence rates of mental health and behavioral problems of Arab youths residing in Jordanian care centers due to family disintegration, maltreatment, or abandonment and to examine how functioning varies by child characteristics and placement history.

Methods:

Child Behavior Checklist and case history data were collected for 70 youths across four Jordanian care centers.

Results:

Approximately 53% of the adolescents were identified as experiencing mental health problems, and 43% and 46% had high internalizing and externalizing scores, respectively. Ordinary least-squares regression models examining mental health functioning showed that male gender, care entry because of maltreatment, time in care, and transfers were the most significant predictors of problems.

Conclusions:

Paralleling international research, this study found high levels of mental health needs among institutionalized youths. The impact of transfers on functioning is particularly worrisome, given the standard practice of transferring youths to another facility when they reach age 12. Improving the institutional care model by requiring fewer transfers and offering family-based community alternatives may ameliorate risks of developing mental and behavioral problems.

Formats available

You can view the full content in the following formats:

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Psychiatric Services
Go to Psychiatric Services
Cover: Tommy, by Mitchell Siporin, 1943. Gouache, 9 × 7 inches. Courtesy of the estate of the artist and the Susan Teller Gallery, New York City.
Psychiatric Services
Pages: 196 - 200
PubMed: 23370627

History

Published in print: February 2013
Published online: 15 October 2014

Authors

Details

Robin E. Gearing, Ph.D.
Michael J. MacKenzie, Ph.D.
Craig S. Schwalbe, Ph.D.
Kathryne B. Brewer, M.S.W.
Rawan W. Ibrahim, Ph.D.
Dr. Gearing, Dr. MacKenzie, Dr. Schwalbe, and Ms. Brewer are affiliated with the Columbia University School of Social Work, 1255 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY 10027 (e-mail: [email protected]).
Dr. Ibrahim is with the Columbia University Middle East Research Center, Amman, Jordan.

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Export Citations

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu.

Format
Citation style
Style
Copy to clipboard

View Options

View options

PDF/EPUB

View PDF/EPUB

Full Text

View Full Text

Login options

Already a subscriber? Access your subscription through your login credentials or your institution for full access to this article.

Personal login Institutional Login Open Athens login
Purchase Options

Purchase this article to access the full text.

PPV Articles - Psychiatric Services

PPV Articles - Psychiatric Services

Not a subscriber?

Subscribe Now / Learn More

PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5-TR® library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.

Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Share article link

Share