Prevalence of psychotic-like experiences among Afghan migrant children and adolescents: examining the predictive role of childhood trauma, mindfulness, and cognitive flexibility
Abstract Background Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) are subclinical phenomena that reflect mental health vulnerabilities in high-risk populations, such as migrant children and adolescents. This study aims to estimate the PLEs and their correlates in Afghan migrant children and adolescents. Methods...
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2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06979-x |
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| author | Abdul Reza Rezaee Seyed Ruhollah Hosseini Abbas Firoozabadi |
| author_facet | Abdul Reza Rezaee Seyed Ruhollah Hosseini Abbas Firoozabadi |
| author_sort | Abdul Reza Rezaee |
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| description | Abstract Background Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) are subclinical phenomena that reflect mental health vulnerabilities in high-risk populations, such as migrant children and adolescents. This study aims to estimate the PLEs and their correlates in Afghan migrant children and adolescents. Methods This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence of psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) among 770 Afghan migrant students living in Mashhad city of Iran, using the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief Child Version (PQ-BC). The Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI), Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM), and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) were employed in univariate and multivariate models to examine psychological and trauma-related correlates of PLEs. Results The findings showed that 94% of participants reported experiencing at least one psychotic-like experience. Additionally, 34% of Afghan migrant children and adolescents met the cutoff point, and experienced significant distress. Psychotic-like symptoms were more prevalent in adolescents than in children (OR = 1.946). Emotional abuse (OR = 1.123), a subscale of childhood trauma, along with mindfulness (OR = 0.925) and cognitive flexibility (OR = 1.038), were identified as correlates of psychotic-like experiences. In aggregate, all correlates of PLEs explained 22% of the variance in the outcome variable for children and 29% for adolescents. These results contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors influencing psychotic-like experiences within migrant populations. Conclusion These results show that PLEs are common among Afghan migrant children and adolescents, a marginalized minority group. While some theories might explain these findings, the results highlight the need for mental health services to pay closer attention to this population. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3e9738570c0c49d9859b968d6ef7954d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-3e9738570c0c49d9859b968d6ef7954d2025-08-20T04:01:41ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2025-07-012511910.1186/s12888-025-06979-xPrevalence of psychotic-like experiences among Afghan migrant children and adolescents: examining the predictive role of childhood trauma, mindfulness, and cognitive flexibilityAbdul Reza Rezaee0Seyed Ruhollah Hosseini1Abbas Firoozabadi2Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education Sciences and Psychology, Ferdowsi University of MashhadDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Education Sciences and Psychology, Ferdowsi University of MashhadDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Education Sciences and Psychology, Ferdowsi University of MashhadAbstract Background Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) are subclinical phenomena that reflect mental health vulnerabilities in high-risk populations, such as migrant children and adolescents. This study aims to estimate the PLEs and their correlates in Afghan migrant children and adolescents. Methods This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence of psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) among 770 Afghan migrant students living in Mashhad city of Iran, using the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief Child Version (PQ-BC). The Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI), Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM), and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) were employed in univariate and multivariate models to examine psychological and trauma-related correlates of PLEs. Results The findings showed that 94% of participants reported experiencing at least one psychotic-like experience. Additionally, 34% of Afghan migrant children and adolescents met the cutoff point, and experienced significant distress. Psychotic-like symptoms were more prevalent in adolescents than in children (OR = 1.946). Emotional abuse (OR = 1.123), a subscale of childhood trauma, along with mindfulness (OR = 0.925) and cognitive flexibility (OR = 1.038), were identified as correlates of psychotic-like experiences. In aggregate, all correlates of PLEs explained 22% of the variance in the outcome variable for children and 29% for adolescents. These results contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors influencing psychotic-like experiences within migrant populations. Conclusion These results show that PLEs are common among Afghan migrant children and adolescents, a marginalized minority group. While some theories might explain these findings, the results highlight the need for mental health services to pay closer attention to this population.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06979-xPsychotic-like experiencesAfghanChildhood traumaMindfulnessCognitive flexibility |
| spellingShingle | Abdul Reza Rezaee Seyed Ruhollah Hosseini Abbas Firoozabadi Prevalence of psychotic-like experiences among Afghan migrant children and adolescents: examining the predictive role of childhood trauma, mindfulness, and cognitive flexibility BMC Psychiatry Psychotic-like experiences Afghan Childhood trauma Mindfulness Cognitive flexibility |
| title | Prevalence of psychotic-like experiences among Afghan migrant children and adolescents: examining the predictive role of childhood trauma, mindfulness, and cognitive flexibility |
| title_full | Prevalence of psychotic-like experiences among Afghan migrant children and adolescents: examining the predictive role of childhood trauma, mindfulness, and cognitive flexibility |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of psychotic-like experiences among Afghan migrant children and adolescents: examining the predictive role of childhood trauma, mindfulness, and cognitive flexibility |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of psychotic-like experiences among Afghan migrant children and adolescents: examining the predictive role of childhood trauma, mindfulness, and cognitive flexibility |
| title_short | Prevalence of psychotic-like experiences among Afghan migrant children and adolescents: examining the predictive role of childhood trauma, mindfulness, and cognitive flexibility |
| title_sort | prevalence of psychotic like experiences among afghan migrant children and adolescents examining the predictive role of childhood trauma mindfulness and cognitive flexibility |
| topic | Psychotic-like experiences Afghan Childhood trauma Mindfulness Cognitive flexibility |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06979-x |
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