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Suicide risk and psychopathology in immigrants: a multi-group confirmatory factor analysis

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Abstract

Background

Immigrants may experience several negative consequences as a result of their migration including discrimination, unsatisfactory economic conditions, and rejection from the host countries, which may contribute to psychiatric illness and vulnerability to suicidal behaviors. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether or not the theorized components of measured dimensions of suicide risk and psychopathology vary across samples of Italians and immigrants.

Methods

We investigated 237 Italians and 234 immigrants, who were administered self-report questionnaires to assess temperament (TEMPS-A), hopelessness (BHS), personality (EPQ-R), and self–other perception (9AP).

Results

Multi-group confirmatory factor analyses were conducted, which yielded a final model with an excellent fit to the data (χ 2(53)  = 57.56; CFI = 0.994; RMSEA = 0.014). This final model fits significantly better than the previously tested models and indicated that the same pattern of relationships was found between suicide risk and psychopathology across both groups.

Conclusions

Although immigrants represent a unique population and may experience specific stressors contributing to psychopathology and suicide risk, our findings suggest that the samples of Italians and immigrants may be more similar on the study variables under investigation than previously thought. Implications are offered for the improved identification and treatment of immigrants and resident citizens in Europe in general and in Italy in particular.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, Suicide Prevention Center, Department of Psychiatry, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 1035 Via di Grottarossa, 00189, Rome, Italy

    Paolo Iliceto, Maurizio Pompili, Gianluca Serafini & Paolo Girardi

  2. McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, USA

    Maurizio Pompili

  3. S&P Statistics and Psychometrics Ltd, Rome, Italy

    Gabriella Candilera

  4. Metropolitan Autonomous University and National Institute of Psychiatry, Mexico City, Mexico

    Guilherme Borges

  5. Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA

    Dorian A. Lamis

  6. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA

    Dorian A. Lamis

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  1. Paolo Iliceto
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  2. Maurizio Pompili
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  3. Gabriella Candilera
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  4. Guilherme Borges
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  5. Dorian A. Lamis
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  6. Gianluca Serafini
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  7. Paolo Girardi
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Correspondence to Maurizio Pompili.

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Iliceto, P., Pompili, M., Candilera, G. et al. Suicide risk and psychopathology in immigrants: a multi-group confirmatory factor analysis. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 48, 1105–1114 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-012-0608-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-012-0608-4

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