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Article
Mental Health Risk Factors Associated with Childhood Language Brokering
Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development (2014)
  • Robert G Morrison, Loyola University Chicago
Abstract
Serving as a language translator (broker) for family members during childhood can affect cognitive and emotional functions in both beneficial and detrimental ways. Child language brokers translate in a variety of contexts including conversations between their parents and financial, legal and medical professionals. Pressure to be involved in these activities may negatively affect mental health by placing undue stress on child language brokers, while also distracting them from other responsibilities such as school. In this study, the relationship between language brokering during childhood and adolescence and the mental health of bilingual young adults was examined. Overall, language brokers had higher levels of depression. Young adults who previously served as language brokers, particularly during their preadolescent years, had higher levels of anxiety than their bilingual non-brokering counterparts. It is important for parents, educators and mental health professionals to become more aware of the mental health consequences that may arise from language brokering duties, particularly how symptoms vary depending on whether brokering began in childhood or adolescence.
Keywords
  • language brokering,
  • translation,
  • psychological health,
  • anxiety,
  • depression
Disciplines
Publication Date
January 21, 2014
DOI
10.1080/01434632.2013.870180
Citation Information
Robert G Morrison. "Mental Health Risk Factors Associated with Childhood Language Brokering" Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development Vol. 35 Iss. 5 (2014) p. 463 - 478
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/robert-morrison/1/