Changes in psychological symptoms during the adjustment of recent immigrants

In the present study, we sought to compare the number, severity, and freque ncy of psychological symptoms and the intensity of perceived stressors amon g immigrants with previously identified positive, negative, or normal patte rns of distress. We evaluated 199 recent immigrants from the former Soviet Union to Israel using the Talbieh Brief Distress Inventory (TBDI) and the P erceived Immigration-Related Stressors Scale (PIRSS) with a 1-year follow-u p period. As predicted, the number, severity, and frequency of psychologica l symptoms and the intensity of perceived stress factors vary among immigra nts showing different distress patterns, A negative pattern was associated with an increase in the total number, severity, and frequency of distress-r elated symptoms and persisting cultural-related stress over time. A positiv e pattern was associated with a reduction in the overall number and severit y of symptoms, as well as a decline in the frequency of distress-free sympt oms and the intensity of all but informational-related stressors. A normal pattern was characterized by the reduction of distress symptoms within a no rmal range along with material- and health-related stresses. Our findings c onfirm the validity of the suggested classification for different patterns of distress and its usefulness in establishing the prognosis for the adjust ment of immigrants. Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.