BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL-PROBLEMS AMONG ADOLESCENTS OF JAMAICA AND THE UNITED-STATES - PARENT, TEACHER, AND SELF-REPORTS FOR AGES 12 TO 18

Nonreferred adolescent samples for ages 12 to is from Jamaica and the United States were compared via syndromes, syndrome groupings, and tot al problem scores on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Teacher's Re port Form. and Youth Self-Report. No significant total problem score d ifferences were found between Jamaican and U.S. adolescents in reports by any informants. However, adolescents in both societies reported si gnificantly more problems than their parents or teachers. Jamaican ado lescents received and endorsed higher problem ratings for the Withdraw n and Somatic Complaints syndromes and on internalizing scores. These findings suggest that by virtue of the time spent in their society, Ja maican adolescents may develop problems their country facilitates. The results further indicate the need to test whether similar CBCL-based syndromes and syndrome groupings are evident in the Jamaican youth pop ulation. If such groupings are identified for Jamaican adolescents, di fferent clinical cutpoints on some scores may be needed for Jamaican t han for U.S, adolescents.