CHILDREN OF WEST INDIAN IMMIGRANTS–I. RATES OF BEHAVIOURAL DEVIANCE AND OF PSYCHIATRIC DISORDER

Abstract

SUMMARY: A total population survey was made of all 10 yr old children in an inner London borough. Teachers' questionnaires were completed on all children, and teachers and parents of a representative subsample were interviewed using standardised and previously Lested methods. As part of this study, comparisons were made between children born to West Indian migrants and children from non‐immigrant families, and within the West Indian group between children born abroad and those born in this country. It was found that West Indian children showed rather more behavioural difficulties at school but they did not differ from other children in terms of disorder shown at home, nor did they differ in terms of emotional disturbance in any setting. The findings are discussed in terms of the children's life experiences.