The epidemiology of anxiety traits was examined in a large sample of Italian preadolescent children, and 3,479 Italian nine-year-old subjects were enrolled. Anxious traits were observed in 10.5% of children. No significant gender differences were found, but children of separated couples presented a relative risk for anxious traits that was 50% higher, than children of cohabiting or married parents. Moreover, large families (more than 4 members) with a stay-at-home mother were also associated with anxiety in the offspring. Currently, this is the first study carried out in a large sample of preadolescent children, all of the same age.
The purpose of our research is to identify, in a sample of immigrant adolescents, the presence of Ultra-High-Risk (UHR) for psychosis and to analyze the interaction between UHR, experience of bullying victimization and low social support. Data were collected from the medical records of 31 immigrant adolescents. CAARMS (Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States) was used to determine the presence of ultra high risk (UHR) of developing psychosis, while MSPSS (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support) for the perceived social support. 45.2% of subjects resulted at high risk for psychosis (UHR). In the UHR group the 57.1% of the subjects told to be victims of bullying (p = 0,007). The MSPSS outlined that 17.2% of the subjects declared that they received a low social support, the 58.6% average, and the 24.1% a high support. Significant differences between UHR and NOT UHR group considering a low perceived social support emerged. Considering the fixed variable "being or not being bullied", a direct correlation between bullying (ρ = 0.431) and UHR and an indirect correlation between the MSPSS total score (ρ = -0.273) and UHR emerged. Results of the multiple linear regression considering UHR as a dependent variable confirmed that both the variables are significant (p = 0.0082) and that they both contribute to the risk of psychosis. Preliminary results of our study suggest a relevant and causal relation between bullying, low social support and psychosis in immigrant adolescents.
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