A lifespan developmental science perspective on trauma experiences in refugee situations

Ajrouch, Kristine J.; Barr, Rachel; Daiute, Colette; Huizink, Anja C.; Jose, Paul E.

doi:10.1016/j.alcr.2020.100342

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 100 publications

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“…To make matters worse, school and business closures, increased unemployment and family demands, wage decreases, and soaring COVID-19 infection rates interrupted the expected trajectory toward independence and other important developmental tasks that are common and pivotal in young adulthood (Ku & Brantley, 2020; Martin & Sorensen, 2020; Sáenz & Sparks, 2020). Disruptions to these life-course milestones are associated with negative developmental outcomes, including a heightened risk for mental health issues such as depression and anxiety (e.g., Ajrouch et al, 2020). For Latinx young adults, the economic and social burdens experienced during the pandemic may be particularly taxing and may provide insight as to why Latinx young adults are experiencing higher mental health distress than other groups.…”

Section: Latinx Young Adult Mental Health and Development During Covi...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic and social consequences of COVID-19 and mental health burden among Latinx young adults during the 2020 pandemic.

Villatoro¹,

Wagner²,

Snyder³

et al. 2022

Journal of Latinx Psychology

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Latinx young adults 18-25 years old face unique challenges that disproportionately put them at high risk of experiencing health as well as economic and social burden due to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The present study examined how economic and psychosocial consequences as a result of the pandemic were associated with mental health issues among a community sample of Latinx young adults (N = 83) from Central Texas. Participants completed an online survey of COVID-related experiences and mental health needs. The survey asked about personal and family experiences of COVID-19 in two significant areas: (a) economic strain (e.g., economic hardship, food insecurity) and (b) psychosocial burden (e.g., losing relationships, substance use). Regression analyses examined the association of COVID-19 consequences on level of mental health symptoms and clinically significant outcomes. Relative to economic consequences, psychosocial consequences due to the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with higher levels of mental health symptoms. In contrast, in few cases, economic strain resultant from the pandemic was correlated with clinically significant outcomes among this sample. Collectively, findings suggest that the costs of the pandemic do not only pertain to mortality from illness but also to morbidity as it relates to deteriorating social circumstances and mental health. Findings from this study call for immediate attention to implement policies and programs to help mitigate the economic and social-emotional consequences of COVID-19 such as easy access to low-cost virtual mental health resources to Latinx young adults.

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Section: Latinx Young Adult Mental Health and Development During Covi...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic and social consequences of COVID-19 and mental health burden among Latinx young adults during the 2020 pandemic.

Villatoro¹,

Wagner²,

Snyder³

et al. 2022

Journal of Latinx Psychology

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“…Despite these limitations, study findings have several implications for policy and practice related to mental health of aging refugees and war-affected populations. To date, the overall health (including mental health) and well-being of older refugees have received limited attention by international aid organizations and governments in countries of resettlement (Ajrouch et al, 2020; Kaga & Nakache, 2019; Lood et al, 2015; Lupieri, 2022), a fact which is problematic given that this age group may be disproportionately burdened by health concerns compared to younger age groups of refugees (Bazzi & Chemali, 2016; Strong et al, 2015). On the most fundamental level, our findings on the persistent psychiatric distress of older Bhutanese adults highlight that older individuals should not remain a hidden or neglected subgroup of individuals when it comes to policies and interventions related to identifying and addressing the mental health needs of refugees.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental health among older Bhutanese with a refugee life experience: A mixed-methods latent class analysis study.

Frounfelker¹,

Mishra²,

Holmes³

et al. 2023

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry

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There are disparities in the mental health of refugee populations compared to individuals who have not experienced forced migration. It is important to identify individuals with a refugee life experience who are most in need of mental health care and prioritize their engagement in services. The objectives of this convergent mixed-methods study are to quantitatively identify the association between exposure to pre- and postresettlement traumas and stressors and mental health among older adults with a refugee life experience, qualitatively identify typologies of narratives of forced migration, and integrate findings to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between trauma and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Study participants were Bhutanese with a refugee life experience living in a metropolitan area in New England (United States). We used quantitative surveys to identify exposures to traumas and symptoms of PTSD. We used latent class analysis to identify subgroups of trauma exposure and association with symptoms of PTSD. A subset of individuals participated in qualitative interviews. Narrative thematic analysis was used to explore typologies of life history narratives. Quantitatively, we identified four classes of patterns of trauma exposure throughout the refugee life trajectory. These classes were associated with current symptoms of PTSD. Qualitatively, we identified four narrative types that indicate participants interpreted and made sense of their life trajectories in a variety of ways. Integration of findings indicate that caution is needed in identifying individuals in need of mental health services and the best approach for interventions that promote psychosocial well-being.

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“…These changes comprehensively impact all domains of children’s and adolescents’ lives and are attributed to biological, psychological, interpersonal, and contextual dynamics within the framework of biopsychosocial models, which are linked to each other in complex interactions that influence children’s development up to adulthood. At different ages and stages of development, the influence of dynamics in various areas on the psychosocial development and health of individuals is characterized by different weightings ( Bronfenbrenner, 1994 ; Elder, 1994 ; Halevi et al, 2016 ; Lehman et al, 2017 ; Ajrouch et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During adolescence, structural changes in the brain, the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, and neuronal connectivity make adolescents particularly reactive to environmental influences ( Romeo, 2010 ; Powers and Casey, 2015 ; Tottenham and Galván, 2016 ). Impairments in neurophysiological development can be accompanied by changes in children’s behavior that interact with psychological, interpersonal, and contextual dynamics ( Lehman et al, 2017 ; Ajrouch et al, 2020 ). The extent to which traumatizing life events in the context of flight affect a child or adolescent is, therefore, determined to a large extent by their age and stage of development ( Weder and Kaufman, 2011 ; Siehl et al, 2022 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trauma-sensitive school concepts for students with a refugee background: a review of international studies

Lembke,

Linderkamp,

Casale

2024

Front. Psychol.

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Children and adolescents with a refugee background are at high risk for traumatization. Once they arrive in safe countries, schools are the institutions where teachers are responsible for caring for them sensitively and competently. Furthermore, schools are organized in learning groups consisting of multiple peers of the same age, which provides excellent opportunities for social learning and experiences of social support. In this respect, schools are the appropriate places where preventive concepts can be applied to students with a refugee background. This systematic review summarizes studies that examine or evaluate existing international concepts of trauma-sensitive schools for supporting traumatized students with a refugee background. Based on N = 41 selected articles, 17 relevant concepts of trauma-sensitive schools were identified. In 35.3% of the concepts, traumatized students with a refugee background are explicitly included in the target group of the concept, while 47.1% of the concepts refer to groups of students with trauma as a result of various adverse childhood experiences, which also occur more frequently within the population of refugee children and adolescents 17.6% of the concepts contain specific adaptations for pupils with a refugee background. The majority of these concepts were developed in the United States. Additional concepts can be reported for Australia, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and Cambodia. Based on available empirical data, no significant effectiveness regarding the researched concepts’ effects on academic and other school-related data can be determined. Although some studies indicate positive effects concerning school-related target variables, most of the studies have only limited significance due to inadequate research designs and methodological deficiencies. Therefore, there is a great need for further development, careful implementation, and evaluation of trauma-sensitive concepts in schools, especially for the growing group of refugee students.

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A lifespan developmental science perspective on trauma experiences in refugee situations

Cited by 10 publications

References 100 publications

Economic and social consequences of COVID-19 and mental health burden among Latinx young adults during the 2020 pandemic.

Economic and social consequences of COVID-19 and mental health burden among Latinx young adults during the 2020 pandemic.

Mental health among older Bhutanese with a refugee life experience: A mixed-methods latent class analysis study.

Trauma-sensitive school concepts for students with a refugee background: a review of international studies

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