Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms, Language Acquisition, and Self-Sufficiency

Abstract

Summary: This non-experimental study was undertaken in order to explore the nature of the relationship between mental health status, English language acquisition, and economic self-sufficiency among recent Bosnian refugees. The subjects (N = 34) were Bosnian refugees recruited from a Catholic refugee resettlement program in the Syracuse area of central New York. Findings: Though no correlation was found among the hypothesized variable relationships, serious trauma-related symptoms were identified in about one-third of refugees. Although no empirical link was identified between trauma-related symptoms and self-sufficiency, the incidence of those symptoms is a cause for concern. Frequently indicated symptoms included sleep disturbance, loneliness, and hopelessness about the future. Applications: From our findings, we can only consider these issues as mental health or quality of life concerns, not as barriers to self-sufficiency. Independently of this study’s lack of support for the latter, these quality of life concerns per se are deserving of attention. Given the regional labor shortage at the time of the study, it is possible that economic self-sufficiency may be more problematic in other periods and places

Living with the Choice: A Grounded Theory of Iraqi Refugee Resettlement to the U.S.

“…Refugees who experience an unparalleled degree of trauma may have critical long-term mental health consequences (Beiser, 2009;Corvo & Peterson, 2005;Dow, 2011;Museru et al, 2010). Unstable living conditions caused by war and migration can exacerbate the intensity and duration of stress for Iraqi refugees, leading to serious physical and emotional consequences.…”

Evaluating the Mental Health Training Needs of Community-based Organizations Serving Refugees

“…As a result of these traumatic experiences, refugees resettling in the United States are at increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and other psychosocial symptoms (Johnson & Thompson, 2008). Resettlement stressors such as the lack of English language skills, living wage jobs and affordable housing can exacerbate mental distress (Corvo & Peterson, 2005) and untreated mental illness in newly arriving refugees can limit successful resettlement (Mitschke, Mitschke, Slater, & Teboh, 2011;Potocky-Tripodi, 2003). It can be difficult for health or social service professionals who work with refugees to recognize mental health symptoms, make appropriate referrals or treat mental health symptoms because of differences in language and culture (Kirmayer et al, 2011).…”

Completing the journey : an exploratory study of factors predicting emotional distress in recently resettled adult refugees.

“…Each year after consulting with Congress and the appropriate agencies, the President of the United States designates the processing priorities for refugee resettlement for the upcoming year. Between 1975 and 2005, the United States resettled over 3 million refugees (Corvo & Peterson, 2005). Despite the September 11, 2001 backlash against foreigners entering the US, resettlement efforts continued with the US admitting more than twice the number of refugees than all other nine countries in the program combined (Vissicaro, 2009).…”

“…One reason is that there are varying perspectives on what contributes to healthy resettlement for refugees (Yakushko, 2010) and more needs to be understood about what specific factors have an impact on refugees during resettlement (Hooberman, Rosenfeld, Rasmussen, & Keller, 2010;Overland, 2011). A variety of studies have explored factors that may improve refugee functioning concluding that there are many possible combinations that impact migration adaptation (Beckerman & Corbett 2008;Colic-Peisker & Walker, 2003;Corvo & Peterson, 2005;Miller et al, 2006;Mui & Kang, 2006;Oh, Koeske, & Sales, 2002) often with conflicting results. With limited resources, clearer identification of the factors that support migration adaptation and contribute to achieving overall well-being are critical to the focused development of resettlement policy and programs.…”

“…According to the Council on Social Work Education, it is the role of the social work practitioner to promote wellbeing by identifying client capacity as well as dynamics of risk (Greene, Galambos & Lee, 2003). However, the rapidly growing numbers of refugees in the US has exceeded the preparation of social workers (Corvo & Peterson, 2005). Arriving daily to resettlement agencies across the country are highly traumatized individuals with a need for more focused care (L. Kaznak, personal communication, January 24, 2013).…”