Abstract
Background. Vulnerability factors for obsessive-compulsive (OC) features in immigrant youth are under-studied. The migration process can have a highly stressful impact on the psychological wellbeing of the individual and it may represent a precipitating factor for different forms of psychopathology. Little is known about the occurrence of OC traits. Unlike other European countries, immigration to Italy is a recent phenomenon. In community children/early adolescents, this study compared OC general symptoms/subtypes and vulnerability cognitive factors amongst Italian natives, first- and second-generation immigrants, and examined whether such vulnerability factors moderate the relation between immigrant status and OC symptoms/subtypes, beyond socio-demographic/clinical variables. Methods. Two hundred sixty-eight children/early adolescents (99 natives, 82 and 87 first- and second-generation immigrants respectively) completed the Obsessive Belief Questionnaire-Child Version, Obsessive Compulsive Inventory-Child Version, Spence’s Children Anxiety Scale, Children’s Depression Inventory.Results. As compared with the other groups, first-generation immigrants had the highest levels of perfectionism and threat overestimation. Both first- and second-generation immigrants had higher doubting – checking traits than natives. First-generation immigrants with higher threat overestimation showed lower obsessing traits. Conclusions. Community screening programs for OC features should consider immigrant youth as a vulnerable group and, potentially, the target of an early intervention.
Obsessive beliefs and subtypes of obsessive-compulsive symptoms amongst immigrant children and early adolescents
