A longitudinal perspective of eating disorder risk in immigrant and Spanish native adolescents: The longitudinal up & down study

Abstract

Objectives: Previous research has postulated immigrant status as a relevant factor influencing eating disorder (ED) risk in adolescents. The present study assesses differences by sex in ED risk between Spanish native and immigrant adolescent populations residing in Spain and analyzes longitudinal differences in ED risk between immigrant and native adolescents over 2-year follow-up.

Method: The study sample was 981 adolescents aged 11-19 years at baseline. ED risk was evaluated using the Spanish version of the SCOFF Questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to value associations between country of origin and ED risk prevalence by sex, as well as changes in ED risk at 2-year follow-up.

Results: Immigrant adolescent girls and boys presented greater ED risk than their Spanish counterparts. Prospective analyses showed that immigrant boys presented greater likelihood of acquiring ED risk over 2 years compared to Spanish adolescent boys.

Conclusion: Immigrant adolescent populations, particularly boys, seem to be vulnerable to ED. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).