Flüchtlingskinder

Psychological burden, stressors and resources of social workers working with women and children who suffered extreme violence by the 'Islamic state': A mixed method study

OBJECTIVE

This explorative study aimed to determine the extent of psychological burden in social workers working with traumatized refugees. In addition, distressing and helpful factors determining the psychosocial burden were to be identified and described.

METHODS

Cross-sectional, mixed method design using quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative part included the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) and items to assess specific factors of the working-context. The qualitative part is based on 5 focus groupdiscussions and 16 individual interviews. Evaluation was carried out using qualitative content analysis (QCA) including cross-analysis along the subscales of the PSQ to organise the qualitative material.

RESULTS

N = 54 social workers completed the questionnaire. High scores were found for all subscales of the PSQ. The distressing factor rated the highest was need of interpreters to communicate (M = 5.1, SD = 1.71), the helpful factor rated the highest was communication skills (M = 6.35, SD = 0.73). In the QCA, aspects of distressing and helpful factors were identified and further detailed.

CONCLUSION

According to the here presented study results, the psychological burdens of social workers working with refugees seem to be high. The impact of distressing factors such as working with interpreters and exposure to trauma content or PTSD symptoms might be reduced by offering specific education and supervision. The individual extent of psychological burden should be considered and (re-)evaluated on a regular basis as secondary prevention. Helpful factors like self-care, teamwork, networking and cooperation are evident and should be supported by implementing professional and psychological support.

Jugendliche Flüchtlinge

Zusammenfassung. Die psychischen Belastungen von jugendlichen Flüchtlingen sind vielfältig und äußern sich in Stressreaktionen, die sich vor allem in einer Posttraumatischen Belastungsstörung, Ängsten und Depression zeigen. Die Prävalenzen sind bei unbegleiteten minderjährigen Flüchtlingen besonders hoch ausgeprägt. Neben fluchtspezifischen Stressoren kommt akkulturationsbezogenem Stress eine wichtige Rolle zu. Ein ungünstiger Akkulturationsstil besitzt einen hohen Vorhersagewert für die Entwicklung einer Posttraumatischen Belastungsstörung und einer Depression. In den letzten Jahren konnten Belege gesammelt werden, die im Rahmen der Behandlung vor allem verhaltenstherapeutische Ansätze als wirksam ausweisen. Gesellschaftliche Anstrengungen (z. B. im Rahmen der Jugendhilfe) und therapeutische Bemühungen sind Teile einer perspektivenreichen Integration jugendlicher Flüchtlinge.

A Brief Introduction to the Multidimensional Intercultural Training Acculturation Model (MITA) for Middle Eastern Adolescent Refugees

The large number of adolescent refugees around the world constitutes a great challenge for societies. However, current models of acculturation have been developed for migrants, but not specifically for adolescent refugees. Crucial factors to describe adolescent refugee acculturation, such as intentions to return to their homeland, especially with respect to adolescent refugees with temporary residency and experiences of potentially traumatic events, are missing. Hence, the Multidimensional Intercultural Training Acculturation (MITA) model is introduced. The model proposes that two major concerns for adolescent refugees, which are socio-cultural adjustment and mental health, are predicted by intercultural and social–emotional competence, intentions to return to their homeland, and experiences of traumatic events. Moreover, the effects of three modes of acculturation are also proposed in the model. It is expected that these variables mediate the effects of intercultural competence, social–emotional competence, intentions to return to the homeland, and experiences of traumatic events on socio-cultural adjustment as well as mental health. Finally, it is also expected that in-group social support and out-group social support moderate the direct connection between the experiences of traumatic events and mental health.

Promoting Mental Health in Unaccompanied Refugee Minors: Recommendations for Primary Support Programs

During the last years, the number of refugees around the world increased to about 22.5 million. The mental health of refugees, especially of unaccompanied minors (70% between the ages of 16 and 18 years) who have been exposed to traumatic events (e.g., war), is generally impaired with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. Several studies revealed (1) a huge variation among the prevalence rates of these mental problems, and (2) that post-migration stressors (e.g., language barriers, cultural differences) might be at least as detrimental to mental health as the traumatic events in pre- and peri-flight. As psychotherapy is a limited resource that should be reserved for severe cases and as language trainings are often publicly offered for refugees, we recommend focusing on intercultural competence, emotion regulation, and goal setting and goal striving in primary support programs: Intercultural competence fosters adaptation by giving knowledge about cultural differences in values and norms. Emotion regulation regarding empathy, positive reappraisal, and cultural differences in emotion expression fosters both adaptation and mental health. Finally, supporting unaccompanied refugee minors in their goal setting and goal striving is necessary, as they carry many unrealistic wishes and unattainable goals, which can be threatening to their mental health. Building on these three psychological processes, we provide recommendations for primary support programs for unaccompanied refugee minors that are aged 16 to 18 years.