Abstract
Jamaican and U.S. nonreferred adolescent
samples ages 12-18 were compared via items on the Child Behavior Checklist,
Teacher's Report Form, and the Youth Self-Report. No significant total
problem score differences were found between Jamaican versus U.S. adolescents
in reports by any informants. However, adolescents in both societies reported
significantly more problems than their parents or teachers. Jamaican adolescents
received higher problem ratings for most of the individual problem items
on which nationality effects emerged, on the Withdrawn and Somatic Complaints
syndromes, and on internalizing scores. Most of the significant nationality
differences in parent, teacher, and self-ratings of competencies showed
more favorable scores for U.S. adolescents. However, the competence items
on which Jamaican adolescents rated themselves significantly higher reflected
the customs (e.g., respect for family members) endorsed by Jamaican adults.
The findings suggest that different clinical cut-points on competence scores
may be needed for Jamaican than for U.S. adolescents.
