A longitudinal study of demographic factors associated with stressors and symptoms in African refugees.

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to assess differences in premigration, transit, and resettlement stressor exposure and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms as a function of demographic characteristics (i.e., gender, ethnicity, age, time in United States) and to examine the concurrent and longitudinal relations between stressor exposure and PTSD symptoms. The sample consisted of adult (18-78 years) Somali and Oromo refugee men and women (N = 437). Qualitative data regarding participants' self-nominated worst stressors collected at Time 2 (T2) informed the development of quantitative scales assessing premigration, transit, and resettlement stress created using items collected at Time 1 (T1). PTSD symptoms were measured at both T1 and T2. Quantitative analyses showed that levels of stressor exposure and PTSD symptoms differed as a function of refugee demographic characteristics. For example, Oromo, more recent, women, and older refugees reported more premigration and resettlement stressors. Oromo refugees and refugee men reported more PTSD symptoms in regression analyses with other factors controlled. Premigration, transit, and resettlement stressor exposure generally was associated with higher PTSD symptom levels. Results underscore the importance of assessing stress exposure comprehensively throughout the refugee experience and caution against overgeneralizing between and within refugee groups.

Elucidating Mental Health Disorders among Rohingya Refugees: A Malaysian Perspective

“…These factors may result in adjustment issues that could increase the odds of MDD among newly arrived refugees. Dissimilar to our findings, previous studies reported poor mental health outcomes among Cambodian, Vietnamese, African, and Sudanese refugees with a longer duration of displacement [ 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ]. This variation could be due to differences in the type (nationality) of the refugee population, whereby variation in cultural practices and beliefs across the various refugee populations exist.…”

The Chronic Traumatic Stress Framework: A conceptual model to guide empirical investigation and mental health treatment for refugees and survivors of torture

“…Financial challenges can be particularly stressful as monetary assistance during resettlement is often extremely time limited. Further, discrimination related to varying cultural backgrounds and religious affiliations can exacerbate stress (Perera et al, 2013). Indeed, a number of studies have shown the negative impact of post migration living difficulties on psychological and physical outcomes in refugees (Schweitzer et al, 2011;Silove, Steel, McGorry, & Mohan, 1998).…”

Somali, Latino and Hmong parents’ perceptions and approaches about raising healthy-weight children: a community-based participatory research study

“…Although newly arrived immigrants in the USA are healthier and have better weight status than their US-born counterparts (9) , their risk for obesity (10) and other chronic diseases (11)(12)(13) increases with longer time in the USA. Immigrant families face stressors stemming from resettlement and adjustment in the host country (14) , including financial realities, language differences, time constraints (15,16) , structural issues such as neighbourhood safety (17) , as well as new weather patterns (18)(19)(20) . Indeed, several studies of immigrants' health have shown that changes in lifestyle behaviours, such as change in diet quality and physical activity (PA), may be contributing to increase in weight, increase in incidence of chronic diseases and decrease in immigrants' perception of their health status (21)(22)(23) .…”