Jones Emma E, Reed Marnie, Meyer Andrea H, Gaab Jens, Ooi Yoon P
University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Singapore.
Front Psychol. 2023 Aug 14;14:1093046. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1093046. eCollection 2023.
This cross-sectional study explores the contributions of personal and contextual factors in the adjustment process of a sample of internationally mobile children and adolescents having relocated to Switzerland. Based on evolutionary developmental theories and recommendations by Research Domain Criteria and The Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology theoretical frameworks, we hypothesized and tested a heuristic model of TCK adjustment, aiming to identify prevention and treatment targets tailored for our sampled population.
We assessed the relationships in the hypothesized models, particularly how perceived and acculturative stress influence TCK adjustment and whether the relationship between the predictors of TCK stress and the outcomes of TCK adjustment are mediated by resilience and family functioning. A total of 143 participants aged 7-17, having relocated internationally with their working parent(s), recruited in local and international schools in Switzerland, were included in this study. Data were collected using an online survey after we collected consent. We assessed factors of adjustment using validated questionnaires: perceived stress and acculturative stress and the potential mediating roles of family functioning and resilience. We measured the outcome of adjustment through mental health difficulties and sociocultural adjustment. We used path analysis to test the model.
Results highlight the contributions of perceived stress and acculturative stress to TCK mental health and sociocultural adjustment. We also we found a mediation effect for resilience in the relationship between perceived stress and mental health. Family functioning was not a significant mediator in any relationship that we assessed.
We discuss implications for future research, promoting TCK adjustment and preventative psychotherapeutic interventions.
本横断面研究探讨了个人因素和情境因素对一组移居瑞士的国际流动儿童和青少年适应过程的影响。基于进化发展理论以及研究领域标准和精神病理学 hierarchical 分类法理论框架的建议，我们假设并测试了一个关于第三文化儿童（TCK）适应的启发式模型，旨在确定针对我们样本群体的预防和治疗目标。
我们评估了假设模型中的关系，特别是感知到的压力和文化适应压力如何影响 TCK 的适应，以及 TCK 压力预测因素与 TCK 适应结果之间的关系是否由复原力和家庭功能介导。本研究共纳入了 143 名年龄在 7 至 17 岁之间、随工作的父母进行国际迁移并在瑞士当地和国际学校招募的参与者。在获得同意后，我们通过在线调查收集数据。我们使用经过验证的问卷评估适应因素：感知压力、文化适应压力以及家庭功能和复原力的潜在中介作用。我们通过心理健康问题和社会文化适应来衡量适应结果。我们使用路径分析来测试模型。
结果突出了感知压力和文化适应压力对 TCK 心理健康和社会文化适应的影响。我们还发现复原力在感知压力与心理健康之间的关系中具有中介作用。在我们评估的任何关系中，家庭功能都不是显著的中介因素。
我们讨论了对未来研究、促进 TCK 适应和预防性心理治疗干预的意义。
