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Cited by 153Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchMigration, Health and TraumaFamily and Disability Support Research

Autism, ethnicity and maternal immigration

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Keen, D. V., Reid, F. D., Arnone, D.·2010·British Journal of Psychiatry
DOI 10.1192/bjp.bp.109.065490
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Abstract

Background: A growing number of European studies, particularly from Nordic countries, suggest an increased frequency of autism in children of immigrant parents. In contrast, North American studies tend to conclude that neither maternal ethnicity nor immigrant status are related to the rate of autism-spectrum disorders. Aims: To examine the hypotheses that maternal ethnicity and/or immigration are linked to the rate of childhood autism-spectrum disorders. Method: Retrospective case-note analysis of all 428 children diagnosed with autism-spectrum disorders presenting to the child development services in two centres during a 6-year period. Results: Mothers born outside Europe had a significantly higher risk of having a child with an autism-spectrum disorder compared with those born in the UK, with the highest risk observed for the Caribbean group (relative risks (RRs) in the two centres: RR = 10.01, 95% CI 5.53–18.1 and RR = 8.89, 95% CI 5.08–15.5). Mothers of Black ethnicity had a significantly higher risk compared with White mothers (RR = 8.28, 95% CI 5.41–12.7 and RR = 3.84, 95% CI 2.93–5.02). Analysis of ethnicity and immigration factors together suggests the increased risk is predominately related to immigration. Conclusions: Maternal immigration is associated with substantial increased risk of autism-spectrum disorders with differential risk according to different region of birth and possibly ethnicity.

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  • To date, there is weak or conflicting evidence for the hypothesis that geographic variation or time trends in prevalence may reflect differences in exposure to environmental risk factors or increased patterns of migration.

    “To date, there is weak or conflicting evidence for the hypothesis that geographic variation or time trends in prevalence may reflect differences in exposure to environmental risk factors (Nevison, 2014) or increased patterns of migration (Keen et al., 2010).”

    From Global prevalence of autism: A systematic review update (2022) · cites this paper as Keen et al., 2010

  • Several recent studies suggest that parental immigration, especially maternal immigration but also paternal immigration, is a risk factor for ASD.

    “In fact, several recent studies suggest that parental immigration, especially maternal immigration but also paternal immigration, is a risk factor for ASD (53–59).”

    From Gene × Environment Interactions in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Role of Epigenetic Mechanisms (2014) · cites this paper as [56]

  • Keen et al. (2010) reported an adjusted OR ranging from 1.2 (95% CI 0.8-1.9) in children of European mothers born outside the UK to 10.0 (95% CI 5.5-18.1) in children of Caribbean mothers compared with mothers born in the UK.

    “Keen et al. (2010) reported an adjusted OR ranging from 1.2 (95% CI, 0.8–1.9) in children of European mothers born outside the UK to 10.0 (95% CI, 5.5–18.1) in children of Caribbean mothers compared with mothers born in the UK [63].”

    From Vitamin D and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review (2016) · cites this paper as [63]

  • Most studies showed increased risk of ASD among children of migrant parents, while some reported no association or even decreased risk.

    “Most studies showed increased risk of ASD among children of migrant parents [61,62,63,64,65,66,67,69,70], while some reported no association [61,65,68,69] or even decreased risk [61,68,69,70].”

    From Vitamin D and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review (2016) · cites this paper as [63]

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Kolevzon A, Gross R, Reichenberg A. Prenatal and perinatal risk factors in sutism. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2007; 161: 326-33.

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Authors
Keen, D. V., Reid, F. D., & Arnone, D.
Affiliations
  • St George's Hospital (GB)
  • St George's, University of London (GB)
  • Warneford Hospital (GB)
Corresponding author
Keen, D. V.
ORCID
Venue
British Journal of Psychiatry
Publisher
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Published
2010-04
Volume
196
Issue
4
Pages
274-281
ISSN
  • 0007-1250 (ISSN-L)
  • 1472-1465
DOI
10.1192/bjp.bp.109.065490
OpenAlex
W2148420330
Cited by
153
References
43
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 11
FWCI
6.58
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified, 2833 d)
Locations
  • The British Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Medical Research Council
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Family and Disability Support Research
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, maternal ethnicity, Caribbean immigrants, Black mothers, immigrant children, child development services
MeSH terms
Age Factors, Child, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Child, Preschool, Emigration and Immigration, Epidemiologic Methods, Female, Humans, London, Male, Mothers, Sex Distribution

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