A Hmong Adaptation of the Beck Depression Inventory

Abstract

We developed the Hmong Adaptation of the Beck Depression Inventory (HABDI) and evaluated the instrument's psychometric characteristics. Also examined was the relationship between depression and demographic variables such as age, sex, length of stay in America, English-speaking ability, and social support in Hmong refugees. One hundred twenty-three Hmong living in Fresno County, between the ages of 18 and 66, participated in the study. The new measure demonstrated a high coefficient alpha (.93), and test-retest reliability (.92), and a significant mean score difference between the nondepressed and the depressed groups. Individual items were distributed evenly and correlated highly with the total depression score. The HABDI correctly identified 94% of depressed and 78% of nondepressed in the Hmong sample. The results suggest that quality of social support and years of education play important roles in buffering Hmong refugees against depression, whereas length of stay in America and number of social supports do not.

The Role of Psycho-Sociocultural Factors in Suicide Risk Among Mong/Hmong Youth

“…Currently, there are only two well established and validated translated measurements for depression in the Mong/Hmong language (Mouanoutoua & Brown, 1995;Mouanoutoua, Brown, Cappelletty, & Levine, 1991 If you decide to participate, you will be asked to respond to a series of survey questionnaires. The survey will include questions about your age, gender and other areas such as your family, culture, ethnicity, and psychological well-being.…”

Mental Health Status of the Hmong Americans in 2011: Three Decades Revisited

“…Kroll et al (1989) Hmong participants had higher proportions diagnosed with major depressive symptoms at 80.4% compared to 70.7% for Cambodians, 59.25% for Laotians, and 54.1% for the Vietnamese. Mouanoutoua et al (1991) Strongest correlation coefficients for substantial distress included loss of libido and irritability, sense of failure and pessimism, sadness and helplessness, work difficulty, and somatic preoccupations. Chung & Lin (1994) Hmong participants had lower help-seeking behaviors to consume Westernized medicine practices at 11%, with 68% for Vietnamese, 53% for Laotians, and 44% for the Cambodians and Chinese.…”

“…He determined that acculturation stress was the strongest factor of these refugees' mental health. In another study by Mouanoutoua, Brown, Cappelletty, and Levine (1991), three qualities were found to buffer the Hmong against depression and were not contributive of mental health issues: qualitative social support systems, educational obtainment, and the proceeding years of resettlement. Kunstadter (2000) wrote a testimony to the Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders that addressed how the Hmong suffered higher rates of mental health issues.…”

“…The research team of Mouanoutoua et al (1991) administered the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck, Ward, Mendelson, Mock, & Erbaugh, 1961) to Hmong residents of Fresno, California; 50 clinically depressed consumers were drafted from the County's Mental Health program and compared to 73 randomly selected residents. From both samples, the strongest correlation coefficients for major distress included loss of libido and irritability (r ¼ .75), a sense of failure and pessimism (r ¼ .71), sadness and helplessness (r ¼ .70), work difficulties (r ¼ .69), and somatic preoccupations (r ¼ .32).…”

Coping and Regulating Emotions: A Pilot Study of a Modified Dialectical Behavior Therapy Group Delivered in a College Counseling Service

“…Again, the reduction in the number of participants categorized within the clinical range of BPD symptoms (30-45 = "Severe") was nonsignificant (see Table 2). An Edwards-Nunnally corrected reliable change index (RCI) 28 was calculated for each participant on the BDI-II, BAI, and BPD symptom measures using reliability coefficients of .93, 22,24 .75, 25 and .88, 30 respectively. On the BDI-II, 59% of participants achieved a reliable change (RCI < −1.96, p < .05), 12% achieved the same result on the BAI, and 40% achieved reliable change in BPD symptoms (see Table 3).…”