The Impact of Post-Migration Factors on Posttraumatic Stress and Depressive Symptoms among Asylum Seekers in the United States

The relationship between employment and health for people from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds: A systematic review of quantitative studies

“…Seventeen papers reported the relationship between employment and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) ( Ahmad, Othman, & Lou, 2020 ; Aragona et al, 2019 ; Barbieri et al, 2021 ; Bogic et al, 2012 ; Carlsson et al, 2006 ; Cooper et al, 2019 ; Eisen, Howe, & Cogar, 2021 ; Hermansson et al, 2002 , 2003 ; Hocking et al, 2015 ; Kashyap, Page, & Joscelyne, 2019 ; Marshall et al, 2005 ; Niederkrotenthaler, Mittendorfer-Rutz, Saboonchi, et al, 2020 ; Renner et al, 2021 ; Sonne et al, 2021 ; Teodorescu, Heir, Hauff, Wentzel-Larsen, & Lien, 2012 ; Wright et al, 2016 ). The most frequently used PTSD measure was the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ), used by seven of the 16 papers ( Ahmad et al, 2020 ; Aragona et al, 2019 ; Carlsson et al, 2006 ; Eisen et al, 2021 ; Hocking et al, 2015 ; Kashyap et al, 2019 ; Sonne et al, 2021 ). Other measures included the Post Traumatic Symptom Scale (PTSS-10) ( Hermansson et al, 2002 , 2003 ), PTSD Checklist ( Barbieri et al, 2021 ; Wright et al, 2016 ) and Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS-5) ( Renner et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Employment status was not significantly associated with PTSD in eight studies, six longitudinal and two cross-sectional. ( Barbieri et al, 2021 ; Bogic et al, 2012 ; Cooper et al, 2019 ; Eisen et al, 2021 ; Kashyap et al, 2019 ; Marshall et al, 2005 ; Renner et al, 2021 ; Sonne et al, 2021 ). Two longitudinal studies in the USA found that employment status was not independently associated with PTSD ( Eisen et al, 2021 ; Kashyap et al, 2019 ).…”

“…( Barbieri et al, 2021 ; Bogic et al, 2012 ; Cooper et al, 2019 ; Eisen et al, 2021 ; Kashyap et al, 2019 ; Marshall et al, 2005 ; Renner et al, 2021 ; Sonne et al, 2021 ). Two longitudinal studies in the USA found that employment status was not independently associated with PTSD ( Eisen et al, 2021 ; Kashyap et al, 2019 ). Kashyap et al found that employment status only moderated PTSD score when it was examined with stable housing ( Kashyap et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Kashyap et al found that employment status only moderated PTSD score when it was examined with stable housing ( Kashyap et al, 2019 ). Another study of 78 torture surviving asylum seekers found that PTSD symptoms improved over time, independent of employment status changes ( Eisen et al, 2021 ). Five papers found that unemployment was not associated with higher levels of PTSD ( Barbieri et al, 2021 ; Bogic et al, 2012 ; Cooper et al, 2019 ; Marshall et al, 2005 ; Renner et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Twenty-one papers examined the relationship between employment and depression ( Ahmad et al, 2020 ; Baranik et al, 2018 ; Beiser & Hou, 2001 ; Beiser & Hou, 2006 ; Carlsson et al, 2006 ; de Vroome & van Tubergen, 2010 ; Drydakis, 2022 ; Eisen et al, 2021 ; Hermansson et al, 2002 ; Hermansson et al, 2003 ; Hocking et al, 2015 ; Jeon et al, 2009 ; Kashyap et al, 2019 ; Kim, 2016 ; Kim et al, 2011 ; Marshall et al, 2005 ; Renner & Salem, 2009 ; Sonne et al, 2021 ; Teodorescu, Heir, et al, 2012 ; Warfa et al, 2012 ; Wright et al, 2016 ). Depression scales included the Hopkins Symptom Checklist ( Carlsson et al, 2006 ; Eisen et al, 2021 ; Hermansson et al, 2002 , 2003 ; Hocking et al, 2015 ; Sonne et al, 2021 ; Teodorescu, Heir, et al, 2012 ), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) ( Ahmad et al, 2020 ; Kashyap et al, 2019 ; Renner et al, 2021 ) and the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale ( Baranik et al, 2018 ; Drydakis, 2022 ; Jeon et al, 2009 ; Kim et al, 2011 ).…”