The Effects of International Relocation on Adolescents’: Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, Suicide Ideation and Self Esteem Development

A Thesis Submitted to the School of Humanities and Social Sciences in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Master of Arts in Clinical PsychologyRelocation has been known to have potential adverse effects on children and adolescent’s psychological well-being (Fail, Thompson & Walker, 2004; Mok, Web, Appleby & Pedersen, 2016), as well as positive personal gains (Pollock & Van Reken, 2010). This study examined the relationship between international relocation(s) during the formative years of one’s life, and psychological well-being in adolescents at an international high school in Kenya. Fifty high school students were sampled by convenience. Specifically, the level of depression, anxiety, suicide ideation and selfesteem were measured using questionnaires; Beck’s Depression Inventory, Beck’s Anxiety Inventory, the Suicide Behavior Questionnaire-Revised and the Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale. A demographic questionnaire was administered to gain some more details from the participants. To provide deeper insight to the topic, one focus group was arranged with the goal of retrieving information not revealed by the questionnaires. Ten percent of the participants felt miserable or hated moving, 34 percent adjust after a while, and the majority find moving ok or finds it exciting. This study found no relationship between frequency of international relocations and depression, (r(47) = .15, p = .29), anxiety,(r(47) = .09, p=.53), suicide ideation (r(48) = -.183, p = .20), and self-esteem, (r(48) = -.09, p = .54). The focus group revealed a more complex view on international relocation; it was difficult to leave friends behind, change schools, and uproot one-self, but it was also exciting to experience new cultures, learn new languages and meet ne