Objectives: Comparison of the familial, socio-economic and cultural factors among adolescents from German and migrant families; analysis of the risk factors for conspicuous behavior among the adolescents.
Methods: 224 graduates of secondary schools in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin replied to three questionnaires on living situations, psychosocial stress and conspicuous behavior.
Results: The living situation of the adolescents from migrant, above all Turkish families as compared to their German counterparts, is characterized by psychosocial disadvantage, but also by a greater stability within the family. Cultural differences are also noted. Risk factors in conjunction with conspicuous behavior included in addition to familial and socioeconomic factors, above all chronic illness, and persecution and discrimination, whereby chronic illnesses were most significantly frequent among the German, while persecution and discrimination were most significantly frequent among the Turkish adolescents. Cultural differences posed no risks for conspicuous behavior.