Mothers’ reports of behavioral symptoms among children detained at family detention centers in the U.S

Abstract

Few studies have empirically examined children’s symptoms during immigration detention. This study investigated the behavioral problems of detained children through their mothers’ reports by interviewing 42 female immigrants from Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala who had been in family detention centers in Texas, using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Results revealed that a majority of children (59.5%) displayed significant behavioral symptoms, with 78.6% exhibiting Emotional Problems, 50% exhibiting Conduct Problems, 45.2% exhibiting Hyperactivity, and 57.1% displaying Peer Problems. Significant correlations were observed between the child’s Total Difficulties score and the mother’s experience of fear for one’s life during the journey to the U.S. (r = .32), and between the child’s Conduct Problems and the mother’s experience of violence during the same stage (r = .39). Also, the child’s Emotional Problems were associated with the mother’s PTSD symptoms (r = .42), and Peer Problems were associated with the mother’s depression symptoms (r = .39). The high prevalence of behavioral problems in the children indicates the need for special attention in the detention process.

Keywords:

• Central America
• child behavioral problems
• family detention center
• strengths and difficulties questionnaire

Disclosure of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Ethical standards and informed consent

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation at the New York University Langone School of Medicine and of the United States and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. Informed consent was obtained from all respondents for being included in the study.