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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in first- and second-generation immigrant children and adolescents : A nationwide cohort study in Sweden

Osooli, Mehdi LU orcid ; Ohlsson, Henrik LU ; Sundquist, Jan LU and Sundquist, Kristina LU (2021) In Journal of Psychosomatic Research 141.
Abstract

Background: Studies on the incidence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among immigrant children and adolescents is limited and results are mixed. The aim of this study was to compare the ADHD risk between first- and second-generation immigrants aged 4–16 years and their native peers in Sweden. Methods: This was an open nationwide retrospective cohort study. We included 1,902,526 native and 805,450 children and adolescents with an immigrant background, born 1987–2010, and aged 4–16 years at baseline. We identified participants using national population data and participants were observed until they received an ADHD diagnosis in the National Patient Register, turned 18 years, migrated, died, or until the end of the study,... (More)

Background: Studies on the incidence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among immigrant children and adolescents is limited and results are mixed. The aim of this study was to compare the ADHD risk between first- and second-generation immigrants aged 4–16 years and their native peers in Sweden. Methods: This was an open nationwide retrospective cohort study. We included 1,902,526 native and 805,450 children and adolescents with an immigrant background, born 1987–2010, and aged 4–16 years at baseline. We identified participants using national population data and participants were observed until they received an ADHD diagnosis in the National Patient Register, turned 18 years, migrated, died, or until the end of the study, whichever came first. ADHD risks were adjusted for birth year and age and maternal income at baseline. Results: For both males and females, the ADHD risk was lower among most immigrant groups. However, the combination of a Swedish-born mother and foreign-born father was associated with an increased risk of ADHD. The ADHD risk varied substantially between immigrants from different regions of the world. For example, immigrants from other Scandinavian countries, North America, and Latin America and the Caribbean had higher rates of ADHD compared with natives. Conclusions: Future research should examine the underlying factors behind the differences in ADHD risks between certain immigrant subgroups and natives, such as family structure, cultural and language barriers and potential differences in health care utilization among immigrant families.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Adolescents, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, Children, Immigrants, Incidence, Sweden
in
Journal of Psychosomatic Research
volume
141
article number
110330
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:33326861
  • scopus:85097668256
ISSN
0022-3999
DOI
10.1016/j.jpsychores.2020.110330
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e75c6a74-bba7-4990-9669-544acf0414d2
date added to LUP
2020-12-23 19:37:33
date last changed
2024-04-17 21:49:42
@article{e75c6a74-bba7-4990-9669-544acf0414d2,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Studies on the incidence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among immigrant children and adolescents is limited and results are mixed. The aim of this study was to compare the ADHD risk between first- and second-generation immigrants aged 4–16 years and their native peers in Sweden. Methods: This was an open nationwide retrospective cohort study. We included 1,902,526 native and 805,450 children and adolescents with an immigrant background, born 1987–2010, and aged 4–16 years at baseline. We identified participants using national population data and participants were observed until they received an ADHD diagnosis in the National Patient Register, turned 18 years, migrated, died, or until the end of the study, whichever came first. ADHD risks were adjusted for birth year and age and maternal income at baseline. Results: For both males and females, the ADHD risk was lower among most immigrant groups. However, the combination of a Swedish-born mother and foreign-born father was associated with an increased risk of ADHD. The ADHD risk varied substantially between immigrants from different regions of the world. For example, immigrants from other Scandinavian countries, North America, and Latin America and the Caribbean had higher rates of ADHD compared with natives. Conclusions: Future research should examine the underlying factors behind the differences in ADHD risks between certain immigrant subgroups and natives, such as family structure, cultural and language barriers and potential differences in health care utilization among immigrant families.</p>}},
  author       = {{Osooli, Mehdi and Ohlsson, Henrik and Sundquist, Jan and Sundquist, Kristina}},
  issn         = {{0022-3999}},
  keywords     = {{Adolescents; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders; Children; Immigrants; Incidence; Sweden}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Psychosomatic Research}},
  title        = {{Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in first- and second-generation immigrant children and adolescents : A nationwide cohort study in Sweden}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2020.110330}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jpsychores.2020.110330}},
  volume       = {{141}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}