Frequent use of psychiatric hospitalization for low-income, inner-city ethnic minority youth.

Abstract

The clinical and demographic data of 664 youth (M age ϭ 13.92, SD ϭ 2.58) were used to identify factors associated with frequent use of psychiatric hospitalization. Clinical data included scores on the Self-Report of Personality (SRP) and Parent Rating Scales (PRS) of the Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second Edition (BASC-2). Demographic data included age, race/ethnicity, gender, and the presence or absence of surrogate care. Results indicated that those youth with frequent admissions to the hospital were generally between 13 and 18 years old ( p ϭ .01), African American ( p ϭ .03), and in surrogate care ( p ϭ .04). Relative to the other youth in our sample they were more aggressive ( p Ͻ .001) and hyperactive ( p Ͻ .001) with severe conduct problems ( p Ͻ .001). They also had more difficulty adapting to change ( p ϭ .003). The implications of these findings and the recommended interventions for youth with disruptive behaviors are discussed.

Stressful life events and perceived parental control in formerly homeless families: Impact on child-internalizing symptoms.

“…The internalizing composite score was examined due to the strong clinical association between anxiety and depression and other internalizing symptoms (Axelson & Birmaher, 2001; Beekman, de Beurs, van Balkom, Deeg, Dyck, & van Tilburg, 2000). The BASC-2 also has good validity across different income levels and cultural backgrounds (Reynolds et al, 2004; Lapointe, Celia Garcia, Taubert, & Sleet, 2010). …”