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Boateng GO, Wachter K, Schuster RC, Burgess TL, Bunn M. A Scoping Review of Instruments Used in Measuring Social Support among Refugees in Resettlement. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 21:805. [PMID: 38929051 PMCID: PMC11203988 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to systematically review current research on the application of existing social support scales in research with refugees in resettlement, assess their quality, and identify gaps in measurement to enhance research and practice. A scoping review was conducted on the extant literature published until March 2023. A team of researchers conducted search, sorting, and data extraction processes following best practices for scale development and validation. Of the 1185 studies collected from the search process, 41 articles were retained in the final analysis, from which 17 distinct social support instruments used in research with resettled refugees were identified. An assessment of all 17 instruments showed the presence of one or more limitations associated with construct, criterion, convergent, and/or discriminant validity. Test of reliability was assessed in all studies, with a range of 0.80 to 0.90. Our findings show that most of the research evaluating social support among resettled refugees is conducted without measurement instruments adequately validated in the resettlement context. This analysis highlights the need for rigorously developed social support scales that reflect the lived experiences, needs, and priorities of resettled refugees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Godfred O. Boateng
- School of Global Health, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
- Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Karin Wachter
- School of Social Work, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA; (K.W.); (T.L.B.)
| | - Roseanne C. Schuster
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85069, USA;
| | - Tanya L. Burgess
- School of Social Work, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA; (K.W.); (T.L.B.)
| | - Mary Bunn
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA;
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2
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Jaramillo ET. Place-based strengths and vulnerabilities for mental wellness among rural minority older adults: an intervention development study protocol. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e088348. [PMID: 38844399 PMCID: PMC11163646 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-088348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Severe inequities in depression and its diagnosis and treatment among rural-dwelling, racial-minority and ethnic-minority older adults compared with their urban white counterparts result in cognitive impairment, comorbidities and increased mortality, presenting a growing public health concern as the United States (US) population ages. These inequities are often attributable to social and environmental factors, including economic insecurity, histories of trauma, gaps in transportation and safety-net services, and disparities in access to policy-making processes rooted in colonialism. This constellation of factors renders racial-minority and ethnic-minority older adults 'structurally vulnerable' to mental ill health. Fewer data exist on protective factors associated with social and environmental contexts, such as social support, community attachment and a meaningful sense of place. Scholarship on the social determinants of health widely recognises the importance of such place-based factors. However, little research has examined how they shape disparities in depression and treatment specifically, limiting the development of practical approaches addressing these factors and their effects on mental well-being for rural minority populations. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This community-driven mixed-method study uses quantitative surveys, qualitative interviews and ecological network research with 125 rural American Indian and Latinx older adults in New Mexico and 28 professional and non-professional social supporters to elucidate how place-based vulnerabilities and protective factors shape experiences of depression among older adults. Data will serve as the foundation of a community-driven plan for a multisystem intervention focused on the place-based causes of disparities in depression. Intervention Mapping will guide the intervention development process. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This study has been reviewed and approved by the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center Institutional Review Board. All participants will provide informed consent. Study results will be disseminated within the community of study through community meetings and presentations, as well as broadly via peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations and social media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise Trott Jaramillo
- College of Population Health, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
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3
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Kirsch J, Maleku A, Kim YK, Aziz T, Dada S, Haran H, Kitchens K. The Correlates of Collective and Individual Trauma on Mental Health Outcomes Among Afghan Refugees: A Study of Sociodemographic Differences. Community Ment Health J 2024:10.1007/s10597-024-01283-6. [PMID: 38691243 DOI: 10.1007/s10597-024-01283-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Following the U.S. military's departure from Afghanistan, a significant number of Afghan refugees have resettled in the United States, presenting complex mental health challenges exacerbated by extensive traumatic exposure. This demographic is particularly affected by collective trauma due to war, genocide, and the loss of homeland. However, detailed investigations into the correlations between collective trauma and mental health outcomes among Afghan refugees are limited. This study sought to explore the relationship between collective trauma and mental health outcomes within the Afghan refugee population in the United States, paying particular attention to the influence of sociodemographic factors. Identifying subgroups at greater risk allows for the development of more targeted mental health interventions. The study surveyed 173 Afghan refugees employing snowball sampling, utilizing a cross-sectional design. Data collection was facilitated through online and in-person surveys in English, Dari, and Pashto. Key measures included the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire for individual trauma experiences, the Historical Loss Scale for collective trauma, the Historical Loss Associated Symptoms Scale for collective trauma symptoms, the Afghan Symptom Checklist-22 for mental health symptoms, and the Post-Migration Living Difficulties Scale for post-migration stressors. Statistical analyses involved Pearson's correlation for variable associations, with nonparametric Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests conducted to assess sociodemographic impacts due to data's non-normal distribution. The analysis revealed significant variations in collective trauma and mental health outcomes across subgroups. Afghan women, minoritized ethnic groups, those who experienced extended displacement, and refugees with uncertain visa statuses reported higher collective trauma levels and worse mental health outcomes. Statistical significance was noted in the correlations between collective trauma and mental health symptoms (r = .53, p < .01) and between post-migration difficulties and mental health (r = .33, p < .01). The disparities in mental health outcomes based on sociodemographic characteristics were significant, with nonparametric tests showing clear distinctions across different groups (Kruskal-Wallis H = 14.76, p < .05 for trauma experience by visa status). This study emphasizes the critical need for mental health interventions that account for the complex experiences of collective trauma among Afghan refugees, especially among identified subgroups. Tailoring mental health services to address the specific needs highlighted through disaggregated data can enhance support for Afghan refugees in the United States. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the relationship between collective trauma and refugee mental health, advocating for nuanced care strategies in resettlement environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn Kirsch
- School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA.
| | - Arati Maleku
- College of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Youn Kyoung Kim
- School of Social Work, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | | | | | - Hanna Haran
- College of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Katherine Kitchens
- School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
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Goodkind JR, Van Horn ML, Hess JM, Lardier D, Vasquez Guzman CE, Ramirez J, Echeverri Herrera S, Blackwell M, Lemus A, Ruiz-Negron B, Choe R. Protocol of the study: Multilevel community-based mental health intervention to address structural inequities and adverse disparate consequences of COVID-19 pandemic on Latinx Immigrants and African refugees. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298369. [PMID: 38626038 PMCID: PMC11020834 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The NIMH-funded Multilevel Community-Based Mental Health Intervention to Address Structural Inequities and Adverse Disparate Consequences of COVID-19 Pandemic on Latinx Immigrants and African Refugees study aims to advance the science of multilevel interventions to reduce the disparate, adverse mental health, behavioral, and socioeconomic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic that are a result of complex interactions between underlying structural inequities and barriers to health care. The study tests three nested levels of intervention: 1) an efficacious 4-month advocacy and mutual learning model (Refugee and Immigrant Well-being Project, RIWP); 2) engagement with community-based organizations (CBOs); and 3) structural policy changes enacted in response to the pandemic. This community-based participatory research (CBPR) study builds on long-standing collaboration with five CBOs. By including 240 Latinx immigrants and 60 African refugees recruited from CBO partners who are randomly assigned to treatment-as-usual CBO involvement or the RIWP intervention and a comparison group comprised of a random sample of 300 Latinx immigrants, this mixed methods longitudinal waitlist control group design study with seven time points over 36 months tests the effectiveness of the RIWP intervention and engagement with CBOs to reduce psychological distress, daily stressors, and economic precarity and increase protective factors (social support, access to resources, English proficiency, cultural connectedness). The study also tests the ability of the RIWP intervention and engagement with CBOs to increase access to the direct benefits of structural interventions. This paper reports on the theoretical basis, design, qualitative and quantitative analysis plan, and power for the study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica R. Goodkind
- Department of Sociology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States of America
| | - M. Lee Van Horn
- Department of Individual, Family, and Community Education, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States of America
| | - Julia Meredith Hess
- Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States of America
| | - David Lardier
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States of America
| | - Cirila Estela Vasquez Guzman
- Department of Sociology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States of America
- Department of Family Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Janet Ramirez
- Department of Sociology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States of America
| | | | - Meredith Blackwell
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States of America
| | - Alejandra Lemus
- Department of Sociology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States of America
| | - Bianca Ruiz-Negron
- Department of Sociology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States of America
| | - Ryeora Choe
- Department of Sociology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States of America
- United Voices for Newcomer Rights, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
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5
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Lechner-Meichsner F, Comtesse H, Olk M. Prevalence, comorbidities, and factors associated with prolonged grief disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and complex posttraumatic stress disorder in refugees: a systematic review. Confl Health 2024; 18:32. [PMID: 38627778 PMCID: PMC11020800 DOI: 10.1186/s13031-024-00586-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The number of refugees worldwide is at an all-time high with many being exposed to potentially traumatic events and the loss of loved ones. The 11th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems now includes prolonged grief disorder and complex posttraumatic stress disorder and revised criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder. An overview of these stress-related disorders among people who have become refugees is therefore needed. Consequently, we conducted a systematic review to determine prevalence rates, comorbidities, and associated factors for each of the disorders. METHOD We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycArticles to identify studies that reported prevalence rates, predictors or associated factors, and/or comorbid mental disorders for either (1) prolonged grief disorder, (2) posttraumatic stress disorder, or (3) complex posttraumatic stress disorder among refugees. The selection process followed the PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS A total of 36 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies were of high quality. There was substantial variation in prevalence rates by disorder, with prolonged grief ranging from 6 to 54%, posttraumatic stress disorder ranging from 0.4 to 80%, and complex posttraumatic stress disorder ranging from 3 to 74.6%. Pooled prevalence for posttraumatic stress disorder was estimated at 29.8% in treatment seeking samples and 9.92% in population samples. For complex posttraumatic stress disorder, it was estimated at 57.4% in treatment seeking samples and 7.8% in population samples. Posttraumatic stress disorder was among the most frequent comorbidities for prolonged grief disorder while depressive symptoms were the most frequently occurring co-morbidity across all three disorders. Sociodemographic variables, trauma exposure, and loss characteristics were associated with higher symptom severity. Postmigration living difficulties played an important role in prolonged grief and complex posttraumatic stress disorder. CONCLUSION The review revealed substantial differences in prevalence rates between the three studied disorders but underscored a very high prevalence of ICD-11 stress-related disorders among refugees. The identified associated factors point to subgroups that may be particularly at risk and establishes a foundational basis for targeted interventions and potential policy changes. Future research should incorporate longitudinal investigations and emphasize culturally sensitive assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Lechner-Meichsner
- Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Goethe University Frankfurt, Varrentrappstraße 40-42, 60486, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
- Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, Utrecht, 3584 CS, Netherlands.
| | - Hannah Comtesse
- Clinical and Biological Psychology, Catholic University Eichstaett-Ingolstadt, Ostenstraße 26, 85072, Eichstätt, Germany
| | - Marie Olk
- Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Goethe University Frankfurt, Varrentrappstraße 40-42, 60486, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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6
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Blackwell MA, Goodkind JR, Yeater EA, Van Horn ML. Predictors of mental health outcomes of three refugee groups in an advocacy-based intervention: A precision medicine perspective. J Consult Clin Psychol 2024; 92:16-25. [PMID: 37768629 PMCID: PMC11216628 DOI: 10.1037/ccp0000847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Precision medicine is an area with great potential for mental health, but has made limited gains prognostically in predicting effective treatments. For refugees exposed to violence, culture may be a crucial factor in predicting treatment outcomes. METHOD For this study, 290 participants from three regions (Afghanistan, the Great Lakes region of Africa, and Iraq and Syria) participated in a randomized controlled trial of an advocacy-based intervention. Emotional distress symptoms were measured prior to intervention, midintervention (3 months), postintervention (6 months), and follow-up (6 months after the end of intervention). Number of traumatic events, resource access, social support, and English proficiency were tested for potential predictive effects on intervention outcome. RESULTS Multilevel generalized linear models revealed that Afghans' (B = -0.259, SE = 0.108, p = .013), and Great Lakes Africans' (B = -0.116, SE = 0.057, p = .042) emotional distress symptoms improved as a function of the intervention, while Iraqis and Syrians showed no intervention effects. For Afghans, English proficiency (B = -0.453, SE = 0.157, p < .01) and social support (B = -0.179, SE = 0.086, p = .037) were most strongly correlated to emotional distress, while for Africans, resource access (B = -0.483, SE = 0.082, p < .001) and social support (B = -0.100, SE = 0.048, p = .040) were the strongest predictors of emotional distress. CONCLUSIONS Response to advocacy-based interventions and active ingredients may be influenced by culture; findings have implications for refugees and precision medicine. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - M Lee Van Horn
- Department of Individual, Family and Community Education, Educational Psychology Program, University of New Mexico
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7
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Isakson BL, Stein ER, Olson A, Waggoner D, Holtz J, Ali S, Amer S, Ndayisenga M. A Helping Hand Out of the River: Refugee Perspectives for Provider Engagement. J Patient Cent Res Rev 2023; 10:231-238. [PMID: 38046992 PMCID: PMC10688911 DOI: 10.17294/2330-0698.2042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose A growing number of refugee groups are seeking care within the U.S. health care system for medical, psychological, and social needs. Research is limited in understanding refugee-specific conceptualizations of helping relationships and provider characteristics that improve interactions in health systems. This study aimed to identify provider characteristics that facilitate engagement and helpfulness in a refugee-specific population from refugee participant voices to inform future practices of health care clinics. Methods Semi-structured interviews with refugee participants were conducted to assess 1) experiences moving on from difficult experiences, 2) engagement with the health system, and 3) provider characteristics that facilitated engagement and healing. Qualitative data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Results An emergent theory was revealed on refugee-defined provider characteristics that facilitated healing and engagement in the health system. Providers who support an individual's story to be told, show awareness of barriers to accessing resources and prioritization of addressing barriers, maintain cultural humility, and demonstrate compassion, empathy, warmth, and openness toward patient engagement were the primary characteristics that facilitated engagement and healing. Conclusions Utilization of engagement strategies by providers at the onset of treatment is critical to providing culturally sensitive health care. Nonspecific but essential provider characteristics are thought to improve relational dynamics, trust-building, and overall engagement in the U.S. health care system from the perspective of refugee participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian L. Isakson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
| | | | - Alexandra Olson
- Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Destiny Waggoner
- Young Children’s Health Center, University of New Mexico Hospitals, Albuquerque, NM
| | - Jill Holtz
- Primary Care Behavioral Health, Presbyterian Healthcare Services, Albuquerque, NM
| | - Sara Ali
- Bay Area Clinical Associates, San Jose, CA
| | - Suha Amer
- United Voices for Newcomer Rights, Albuquerque, NM
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Lardier DT, Hess J, Winter L, Goodkind JR. The impact of postresettlement stressors and access to health care on health outcomes in recently resettled refugees in the United States. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPSYCHIATRY 2023; 93:516-531. [PMID: 37650800 PMCID: PMC10840636 DOI: 10.1037/ort0000697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
This mixed-methods study examines mechanisms connecting the deployment of economic, social, and health care resources to emotional distress and physical health outcomes. Examining such mechanisms is critical for informing strategies, policies, and other interventions for reducing health disparities and improving refugee health in the United States and other resettlement contexts. Data for this study were collected as part of a randomized control trial in a mid-sized city in the Southwestern United States. Two-hundred ninety recently resettled (< 3 years) refugee adults from 143 households were enrolled in the study (36.2% Afghan, 32.8% Iraqi/Syrian, and 31.0% Great Lakes African; 52% women). Qualitative interview data were collected via semistructured interviews. A longitudinal structural equation path model of quantitative data from three time points over 12 months tested hypotheses that emerged from qualitative findings. In semistructured interviews, refugees in the United States (a) attributed the development of worse or new physical health problems to postresettlement stressors related to financial instability and limited social support that contributed to their emotional distress and (b) reported several barriers to accessing health care in the United States, including insufficient knowledge of health care resources, inadequate patient-provider communication, and navigating complex American health insurance systems, all of which exacerbated their physical health problems. Guided by these qualitative findings, longitudinal quantitative data revealed that: (a) postmigration stressors were associated with emotional distress and poor self-reported physical health, (b) emotional distress mediated the association between postmigration stressors and global health satisfaction, and (c) emotional distress was negatively associated with global health satisfaction. Findings document stressors refugees experience in the context of the unique environment created by the American health care system and how these stressors contribute to poor physical health through increased emotional distress. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- David T Lardier
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, University of New Mexico
| | - Julia Hess
- Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, University of New Mexico
| | - Lucas Winter
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, University of NewMexico
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Behrendt M, Vervliet M, Rota M, Adeyinka S, Uzureau O, Rasmussen A, Glaesmer H, Lietaert I, Derluyn I. A conceptual study on the relationship between daily stressors, stressful life events, and mental health in refugees using network analysis. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1134667. [PMID: 37599778 PMCID: PMC10438848 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1134667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction There is growing recognition that daily stressors, such as social and material deficiencies, can be highly detrimental to the mental health of refugees. These stressors are in addition to stressful life events, which have been widely studied in the context of migration and forced displacement. Despite increasing evidence for an ecological model, there is still no consensus regarding the conceptualization of these highly influential factors. In particular, the demarcation of daily stressors from stressful life events and the categorization of daily stressors require further examination in order to develop usable and accurate tools for researchers, design effective interventions for practitioners and assist politicians in designing meaningful policies. Methods To address these challenges, we used data from a sample of 392 unaccompanied young refugees from diverse backgrounds and employed network analysis to examine the relationships between daily stressors, stressful life events, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. Results Our findings highlight the significant relationship between daily stressors and mental health, particularly depression. Meaningful clusters of daily stressors include material stressors, social stressors, and social exclusion stressors. Conclusion Our results demonstrate the importance of considering daily stressors in the mental health of refugees and suggest that using a network approach offers a viable way to study these complex interrelationships. These findings have implications for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in understanding and addressing the mental health needs of refugees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malte Behrendt
- Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy, Centre for the Social Study of Migration and Refugees, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marianne Vervliet
- Department of People and Well-Being, Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Mechelen, Belgium
| | - Marina Rota
- Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy, Centre for the Social Study of Migration and Refugees, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sarah Adeyinka
- Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy, Centre for the Social Study of Migration and Refugees, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Océane Uzureau
- Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy, Centre for the Social Study of Migration and Refugees, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Andrew Rasmussen
- Culture, Migration, and Community, Department of Psychology, Fordham University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Heide Glaesmer
- Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Medical Faculty, The University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ine Lietaert
- Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy, Centre for the Social Study of Migration and Refugees, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies, United Nations University, Bruges, Belgium
| | - Ilse Derluyn
- Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy, Centre for the Social Study of Migration and Refugees, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Sar BK. Refugee Family Health Brokers' (FHBs') Experiences with Health Care Providers: A Thematic Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5381. [PMID: 37047995 PMCID: PMC10094286 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20075381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The resettlement and post-resettlement quality of life of refugees is often marred by chronic health/mental health conditions. To adequately care for refugees suffering these conditions, a promising strategy is the use of refugee Family Health Brokers (FHBs). FHBs are safe and trusted family members functioning as intermediaries between one's family and health care providers. Although FHBs are known to positively influence health care utilization in their families, little is known about them and this aspect of their family caregiving role and experiences, particularly with health care providers, necessitating further research. METHODS Fourteen Bhutanese and three Bosnian refugee FHBs participated in a 2-hr focus group discussing their experiences with health care providers after being surveyed about their FHB role. RESULTS Thematic analysis yielded five themes centered around perceptions, knowledge, communication, behavior, and responsibilities reflective of FHBs' experiences, which can be understood as symptoms of existing structural inequalities. CONCLUSIONS FHBs primarily conveyed problems, struggles, and dilemmas they experienced more so than rewarding aspects of being an FHB. Suggestions are provided on how to avert these negative experiences from occurring and becoming barriers to developing allyship with FHBs in the context of existing structural inequalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bibhuti K Sar
- Kent School of Social Work and Family Science, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40208, USA
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11
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Ermansons G, Kienzler H, Asif Z, Schofield P. Refugee mental health and the role of place in the Global North countries: A scoping review. Health Place 2023; 79:102964. [PMID: 36628805 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2023.102964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Post-migration factors significantly influence refugee mental health. This scoping review looks at the role of place in refugee mental health. We included 34 studies in Global North high-income countries that elaborated on the place characteristics of facilities, neighbourhoods, urban and rural areas, and countries. While the role of place remains under-theorised, all studies reveal common characteristics that support a strong relationship between place of residence, refugee mental health and wellbeing outcomes in post-migration context. Given that refugees often have little or no choice of where they ultimately live, we suggest future research should focus on how characteristics of place co-constitute post-migration refugee mental health risks, protections, and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guntars Ermansons
- Department of Global Health & Social Medicine, School of Global Affairs, King's College London, 40 Aldwych, Bush House (NE), London, WC2B 4BG, UK.
| | - Hanna Kienzler
- Department of Global Health & Social Medicine, School of Global Affairs, King's College London, 40 Aldwych, Bush House (NE), London, WC2B 4BG, UK.
| | - Zara Asif
- Department of Global Health & Social Medicine, School of Global Affairs, King's College London, 40 Aldwych, Bush House (NE), London, WC2B 4BG, UK.
| | - Peter Schofield
- Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King's College London, 3rd Floor, Addison House, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK.
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Handal AJ, Vasquez Guzman CE, Hernandez-Vallant A, Lemus A, Hess JM, Casas N, Galvis M, Medina D, Huyser K, Goodkind JR. Measuring Latinx/@ immigrant experiences and mental health: Adaptation of discrimination and historical loss scales. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPSYCHIATRY 2022; 93:27-40. [PMID: 36375031 PMCID: PMC10030193 DOI: 10.1037/ort0000637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Migration processes encompass uncertainty, discrimination, racism, stigma, social isolation, lack of access to resources, fear of deportation, and family separation, having a critical impact on the health of Latinx/@ immigrants in the United States. It is essential to accurately measure the ways in which social, legal, economic, and political contexts impact mental health. This article discusses adaptation and use of discrimination and historical loss measures in a multilevel community-based advocacy, learning, and social support intervention (Immigrant Well-Being Project) with Latinx/@ immigrants in New Mexico, using participatory research approaches. Participants (n = 52) were recruited through community partner organizations and completed four qualitative and quantitative interviews over a 12-month period. The present analysis draws on the baseline quantitative data. Results show it is possible to adapt standardized measures of discrimination developed to assess the experiences of other racial/ethnic groups; however, the most common responses involved response options added by our research team. For the historical loss instrument, there was a high frequency of "never" answers for many items, suggesting that they were not relevant for participants or did not capture their experiences of loss. As with the discrimination measures, the items we added resonated the most with participants. The contexts of discrimination and loss for Latinx/@ immigrant populations are complex, thus the tools we use to measure these experiences and their impact on health must account for this complexity. This study contributes to these endeavors through involving community members in the conceptualization and measurement of discrimination and historical loss among Latinx/@ immigrants. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis J. Handal
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health
| | - Cirila Estela Vasquez Guzman
- Department of Family Medicine, Oregon Health Science University
- Department of Sociology, University of New Mexico
| | - Alexandra Hernandez-Vallant
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico
- Center on Alcohol, Substance Use, and Addictions, University of New Mexico
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Blackwell MA, Lardier DT, Choe R, Goodkind JR. Geocultural variation in correlates of psychological distress among refugees resettled in the United States. J Trauma Stress 2022; 35:1472-1483. [PMID: 35729776 PMCID: PMC11216627 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Attention to cultural variability in mental health symptoms could inform intervention targets; however, this is currently a neglected area of study. This study examined whether the associations between common mental health disorder (CMD) symptoms and predictors of CMDs varied cross-culturally. Participants were 290 refugees from three geocultural regions (Afghanistan, Great Lakes region of Africa, and Iraq and Syria) who recently resettled in the United States and completed assessments of CMD symptoms and predictors. Multilevel generalized linear modeling was used to examine the interactions between correlates of depressive, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and each of the three cultural reference groups. Relative to refugees from other regions, Iraqi and Syrian participants demonstrated stronger associations between the number of reported traumatic experiences and both depressive, B = 0.01, SE = .003, p = .003, and anxiety symptoms, B = 0.01, SE = .003, p < .001; Afghan participants showed a stronger association between physical quality of life and PTSD symptoms, B = 0.02, SE = .011, p = .037; and African participants demonstrated stronger associations between gender and symptoms of all three CMDs, Bs = 0.11-.020, SEs = .04-.06, ps = .005-.008, and weaker associations between traumatic event exposure and CMD symptoms, Bs = -0.01--0.02, SEs = .003-.006, ps = .000-.002. CMD symptoms likely present differently across cultures, with various predictors more salient depending on cultural backgrounds and differential experiences that vary based on context. These findings have implications for cross-cultural assessment research and mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David T. Lardier
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Ryeora Choe
- Department of Sociology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Jessica R. Goodkind
- Department of Sociology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
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The effects of social isolation stress and discrimination on mental health. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:398. [PMID: 36130935 PMCID: PMC9490697 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02178-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Social isolation and discrimination are growing public health concerns associated with poor physical and mental health. They are risk factors for increased morbidity and mortality and reduced quality of life. Despite their detrimental effects on health, there is a lack of knowledge regarding translation across the domains of experimental research, clinical studies, and real-life applications. Here, we review and synthesize evidence from basic research in animals and humans to clinical translation and interventions. Animal models indicate that social separation stress, particularly in early life, activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and interacts with monoaminergic, glutamatergic, and GABAergic neurotransmitter systems, inducing long-lasting reductions in serotonin turnover and alterations in dopamine receptor sensitivity. These findings are of particular importance for human social isolation stress, as effects of social isolation stress on the same neurotransmitter systems have been implicated in addictive, psychotic, and affective disorders. Children may be particularly vulnerable due to lasting effects of social isolation and discrimination stress on the developing brain. The effects of social isolation and loneliness are pronounced in the context of social exclusion due to discrimination and racism, during widespread infectious disease related containment strategies such as quarantine, and in older persons due to sociodemographic changes. This highlights the importance of new strategies for social inclusion and outreach, including gender, culture, and socially sensitive telemedicine and digital interventions for mental health care.
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Poudel-Tandukar K, Jacelon CS, Poudel KC, Bertone-Johnson ER, Rai S, Ramdam P, Hollon SD. Mental health promotion among resettled Bhutanese adults in Massachusetts: Results of a peer-led family-centred Social and Emotional Well-being (SEW) intervention study. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY 2022; 30:1869-1880. [PMID: 34514640 DOI: 10.1111/hsc.13566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Family-centred interventions addressing sociocultural and emotional stressors promise to prevent mental health problems among refugees in the United States. Peer-led strategies are highly valued, as they engage communities and promote the sustainability of interventions. We assessed the effects of a peer-led family-centred Social and Emotional Well-being (SEW) intervention on preventive (coping, social networking and conflict resolution) and mental health outcomes (stress, anxiety and depression) among resettled Bhutanese adults in Massachusetts. We conducted a SEW intervention with a pre-intervention versus post-intervention (7-day) and follow-up (3-month) evaluation among 103 adults (50 families). The SEW is a culturally tailored 5-weekly session program that included health education, problem-solving and mind-body exercises to increase knowledge and skills regarding stress management and conflict resolution. We measured anxiety and depression using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 and stress using Cohen Perceived Stress scales. Health-promoting behaviours were measured using validated scales. We used paired t-tests for continuous and McNemar tests for categorical variables. Mean scores significantly decreased from pre-intervention to post-intervention and follow-up for stress by 15% and 13.9%, anxiety by 20.9% and 25.1% and depression by 18.7% and 20.4% (all p's < 0.01). Mean scores increased from pre-intervention to post-intervention and follow-up for coping by 10% and 17.2%, and for community networking by 28% and 36.8% (all p's < 0.01). Generalised estimating equations showed a significant reduction in stress, anxiety, depression and improved coping, self-efficacy, family and community networking scored from baseline to follow-ups (all p's < 0.01). Our peer-led family-centred SEW intervention was associated with improved preventive and mental health outcomes among Bhutanese adults.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Krishna C Poudel
- School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | | | - Shan Rai
- Bhutanese Christian Society of Western Massachusetts, Springfield, MA, USA
| | - Purna Ramdam
- Bhutanese Christian Society of Western Massachusetts, Springfield, MA, USA
| | - Steven D Hollon
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
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Lor M, Yu Z, Chen W, Xiong Y, Yonker JA, Brown R, Krahn DD. Refugee-related trauma patterns and mental health symptoms across three generations of Hmong Americans. J Trauma Stress 2022; 35:1087-1098. [PMID: 35201638 PMCID: PMC9355917 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Hmong adults who are Vietnam War refugees have been exposed to refugee-related trauma, but little is known about associations between patterns of trauma exposure and mental health outcomes in Hmong adults. We examined patterns of trauma exposure and mental health symptoms (i.e., somatization, depression, anxiety, and probable posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) in three generations of Hmong adults (N = 219). Trauma exposure and probable PTSD were measured using the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire-Hmong Version. Somatization, depression, and anxiety symptoms were measured using the Brief Symptom Inventory. Latent class analysis (LCA) and auxiliary analysis of sociodemographic characteristics and mental health symptoms were performed. The best-fitting LCA model described three distinct classes: complex and pervasive trauma (60.3%), combat situation and deprivation trauma (26.0%), and low exposure to refugee-related trauma (13.7%). Participants in the complex and pervasive trauma class were the oldest, had the shortest U.S. residency, were the least proficient in English, and reported the most severe mental health symptoms; those in the combat situation and deprivation trauma class were the youngest, moderately proficient in English, and reported moderate mental health symptoms; and those in the low exposure to refugee-related trauma class were the most proficient in English, had the longest U.S. residency, and reported the least severe mental health symptoms. Our findings call for surveillance and a trauma-informed approach for Hmong elders with limited English proficiency, who have a high risk of experiencing accumulative effects of refugee-related trauma and are susceptible to poor mental health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maichou Lor
- University of Wisconsin–Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Zhiyuan Yu
- Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Wenyi Chen
- Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Yee Xiong
- University of Wisconsin–Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | | | - Roger Brown
- University of Wisconsin–Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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Hess JM, Vasquez Guzman CE, Hernandez-Vallant A, Handal AJ, Huyser K, Galvis M, Medina D, Casas N, Chavez MJ, Carreon Fuentes A, Goodkind JR. Innovative participatory bilingual data analysis with Latinx/@ immigrants: Language, power, and transformation. CULTURAL DIVERSITY & ETHNIC MINORITY PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 28:389-401. [PMID: 34323510 PMCID: PMC8799768 DOI: 10.1037/cdp0000481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The insights of Latinx/@ immigrants are essential to developing interventions that better address complex multilevel phenomena impacting mental health. Despite important advances in methods that genuinely embody participatory research practices, attention to collaborative data collection, analysis, and dissemination are limited. Our aim is to describe the development and implementation of research practices to address these gaps through an emphasis on and understanding of the centrality of language in collaborative research processes. METHOD Guided from the outset by community-based participatory research principles, our community-academic research partnership recognized the importance of developing and intentionally studying our collaborative processes. As part of an ethnographic interview study with 24 Latinx/@ immigrants, a community-university research team developed innovative methods, including practices related to research team meetings, data collection, analysis, and dissemination, which we documented through ongoing discussion and reflection. RESULTS The resulting participatory research processes were grounded in a theoretical framework of praxis and language and included six innovative and iterative stages: (a) Establishing the research team, (b) planning the interview process/data collection, (c) developing the data analysis methodology, (d) interpreting findings to adapt the intervention, (e) integrating results of the participatory process into the analysis, and (f) data analysis for dissemination. CONCLUSIONS A focus on praxis and language revealed how the language of research structures' power, meaning, feeling, collaboration, analysis, and transformation. We also found that bilingual participatory analytic processes have important implications with respect to achieving genuine inclusion in rigorous research that moves toward equity for Latinx/@ immigrants and other populations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
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Thomas FC, Coulombe S, Girard TA, Hart TL, Doherty S, Dass G, Wickramage K, Siriwardhana C, Surenthirakumaran R, McShane K. Displacement-related stressors in a Sri Lankan war-affected community: Identifying the impact of war exposure and ongoing stressors on trauma symptom severity. SSM - MENTAL HEALTH 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2022.100129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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Poudel-Tandukar K, Jacelon CS, Martell CR, Poudel KC, Rai S, Ramdam R, Laws H, Meyer JS, Bertone-Johnson ER, Hollon SD. Peer-led family-centred problem management plus for immigrants (PMP-I) for mental health promotion among immigrants in USA: protocol for a pilot, randomised controlled feasibility trial. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e061353. [PMID: 35504635 PMCID: PMC9097550 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Research is needed to investigate preventive strategies to reduce mental health burden and assess effective implementation among immigrants. Problem management plus (PMP) is a low-intensity multicomponent psychological intervention developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) that trained laypeople can deliver. PMP has been adapted as a prevention intervention and developed as PMP for immigrants (PMP-I), including psychoeducation, problem-solving, behavioural activations and mind-body exercise, to address immigrants' multiple stressors. This pilot trial aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of PMP-I and provide a preliminary estimate of the difference between PMP-I versus community support services pamphlets on the primary outcomes of interest (stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms) to inform the design of a large-scale intervention. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The feasibility and acceptability of PMP-I will be assessed by measuring recruitment, session attendance, retention rates, programme acceptability and the fidelity of intervention delivery. This pilot trial will test preliminary effects of PMP-I vs community support services pamphlets in a randomised controlled trial (N=232 participants from 116 families (2 members/family); 58 families randomised to condition intervention or control) on stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms (primary outcomes), chronic physiological stress assessed in hair cortisol (secondary outcomes), and coping, family conflict resolution, and social networking (targets), with assessment at baseline, postintervention and 3-month postintervention. Eligibility criteria for the primary study participants include Bhutanese ≥18 years resettled in Massachusetts with a score of ≤14 on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. All family members will be invited to participate in the family-based intervention (one session/week for 5 weeks). Multilevel modelling will compare the longitudinal change in outcomes for each treatment arm. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The Institutional Review Board of the University of Massachusetts Amherst approved this study (Protocol: 1837). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The study results will be used to inform the design of a large-scale intervention and will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT04453709.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
- Elaine Marieb College of Nursing, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Cynthia S Jacelon
- Elaine Marieb College of Nursing, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christopher R Martell
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Krishna C Poudel
- Department of Health Promotion and Policy, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shan Rai
- Bhutanese Christian Society of Western Massachusetts, Westfield, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Razu Ramdam
- Bhutanese Christian Society of Western Massachusetts, Westfield, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Holly Laws
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jerrold S Meyer
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Elizabeth R Bertone-Johnson
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Steven D Hollon
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Olufadewa II, Adesina MA, Oladele RI, Ayorinde TA. “Watching my family being killed by terrorists made me really depressed”: Mental health experiences, challenges and needed support of young internally displaced persons in northern Nigeria. J Migr Health 2022; 6:100121. [PMID: 35694419 PMCID: PMC9178342 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmh.2022.100121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Over 3.9 million people have been displaced in Nigeria as a result of the over one-decade-long Boko Haram insurgency and about 2.1 million of this population are internally displaced within the country. Young internally displaced persons (IDPs) are at higher risk of mental illness such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among others, however, there are sparse studies on this population. Therefore, this study explored the mental health experiences, challenges, and needed support for young internally displaced persons in Durumi and New Kuchingoro Internally Displaced Persons Camps in Nigeria. Methods This qualitative study was conducted among young IDPs in Durumi and New Kuchingoro IDP camps in Northern Nigeria. Fourteen (14) focus group discussions comprising 89 participants and 30 in-depth interviews with 30 participants were conducted with young IDPs. The interviews were in Hausa and Pidgin English, audio-recorded, transcribed, translated into English, and applied thematic analysis was done using MAXQDA Analytics Pro 2020 Results A total of 89 participants consisting of 47 males and 42 females participated in the FGDs and IDIs. Five key themes emerged from the FGDs and IDI: (1) knowledge about mental health, (2) mental Health Experiences, (3) coping strategies, (4) availability of mental health and other health Support, and (5) needed support. Young IDPs had fair knowledge about mental healthcare. Participants reported their experience before displacement as being peaceful with members of the family together in a good environment while they experienced stress, trauma, shock, sadness, and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD during and post displacement. Personal coping strategies such as listening to music, engaging in sports, reading books, farming, and other economic activities were reported by participants. Participants reported the absence of structured and specialized mental health support in the IDP camps and solicited mental health, physical health, economic and educational support. Conclusion Young IDPs had negative experiences that led to symptoms of mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD among others with little or no access to quality mental healthcare. Hence, they require specialized and structured mental health support to lead healthy and productive lives. Policy and programs aimed at increasing access to mental health information and services for forced migrants are recommended.
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Wachter K, Bunn M, Schuster RC, Boateng GO, Cameli K, Johnson-Agbakwu CE. A Scoping Review of Social Support Research among Refugees in Resettlement: Implications for Conceptual and Empirical Research. JOURNAL OF REFUGEE STUDIES 2022; 35:368-395. [PMID: 35360343 PMCID: PMC8946570 DOI: 10.1093/jrs/feab040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
This study reviewed social support research with refugees in resettlement by assessing the scope of scholarship and examining methodological approaches, definitions, theoretical frameworks, domains, and sources of support. The scoping review followed a systematic approach that retained 41 articles for analysis. The findings indicate that refugee resettlement studies seldom conceptualizes social support as a central focus, defines the concept, draws from related theory, or examines multifaceted components of the construct. The review nevertheless yielded promising findings for future conceptual and empirical research. The analysis identified a wide range of relevant domains and sources of social support, laying the foundation for a socio-ecological model of social support specific to refugee experiences in resettlement. The findings also indicate an imperative to examine and theorize social support vis-à-vis diverse groups as a main outcome of interest, in connection to a range of relevant outcomes, and longitudinally in recognition of the temporal processes in resettlement.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mary Bunn
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1601 W. Taylor Street, SPHPI MC 912, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Roseanne C Schuster
- Center for Global Health, School of Human Evolution & Social Change, Arizona State University, SHESC 262, 900 Cady Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Godfred O Boateng
- College of Nursing and Health Innovation, The University of Texas at Arlington, MAC 155, 500 W Nedderman Drive, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Kaila Cameli
- School of Social Work, Arizona State University, 411 N Central Avenue #800, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Crista E Johnson-Agbakwu
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Valleywise Health, 2525 E. Roosevelt Street, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA
- Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center, Office of Refugee Health, Arizona State University, 201 N. Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
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Elswick S, Washington G, Mangrum-Apple H, Peterson C, Barnes E, Pirkey P, Watson J. Trauma Healing Club: Utilizing Culturally Responsive Processes in the Implementation of an After-School Group Intervention to Address Trauma Among African Refugees. JOURNAL OF CHILD & ADOLESCENT TRAUMA 2022; 15:155-166. [PMID: 34336082 PMCID: PMC8302980 DOI: 10.1007/s40653-021-00387-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The State of Tennessee granted appropriations to an urban university in the West Tennessee region to address the needs of at-risk African refugee children and families who have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Action oriented research efforts were conducted to address the needs of youth in the local region by developing, implementing, and evaluating a community-based intervention that was not only trauma responsive but culturally competent. The Trauma Healing Club was a treatment package developed and researched for this purpose and offered in an after school support program. This identified intervention utilized an existing evidence-based trauma intervention framework that was adapted to include more culturally responsive processes such as pyramid mentoring and African drumming. This work aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated trauma-informed practice model for community-based programming and the effectiveness of adapting an existing intervention to better fit the community needs. Results indicated that the adaptation of the trauma-responsive intervention was effective and supportive of the child-participant and his/her family needs -both culturally and as it relates to improved participant functioning post intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Elswick
- School of Social Work, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN USA
| | | | | | | | - Ebony Barnes
- School of Social Work, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN USA
| | - Paige Pirkey
- School of Social Work, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN USA
| | - Jerry Watson
- School of Social Work, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN USA
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Jaramillo ET, Haozous E, Willging CE. The Community as the Unit of Healing: Conceptualizing Social Determinants of Health and Well-Being for Older American Indian Adults. THE GERONTOLOGIST 2022; 62:732-741. [PMID: 35092427 PMCID: PMC9154240 DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnac018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives Multiple racial and social inequities shape health and access to health care for American Indian Elders, who have a lower life expectancy than all other aging populations in the United States. This qualitative study examines how upstream social determinants of health influence Elders’ ability to access and use health care. Research Design and Methods Between June 2016 and March 2017, we conducted individual, semistructured interviews with 96 American Indian Elders, aged 55 and older, and 47 professionals involved in planning or delivering care to Elders in 2 states in the U.S. Southwest. Transcripts were analyzed iteratively using grounded theory approaches, including open and focused coding. A group of American Indian Elders and allies called the Seasons of Care Community Action Board guided interpretation and prioritization of findings. Results Participants described multiple barriers that hindered Elders’ ability to access health care services and providers, which were largely tied to funding shortages and bureaucratic complexities associated with health care and insurance systems. Where available, community resources bridged service gaps and helped Elders navigate systems. Discussion and Implications Longstanding structural inequities for American Indians manifest in barriers to health equity, many of which are situated at the community level. These are compounded by additional disparities affecting older adults, rural residents, and marginalized citizens in general. Findings underscore the importance of health and policy initiatives for American Indian Elders that emphasize the community as the focus of intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emily Haozous
- Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
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Peñuela-O'Brien E, Wan MW, Edge D, Berry K. Health professionals' experiences of and attitudes towards mental healthcare for migrants and refugees in Europe: A qualitative systematic review. Transcult Psychiatry 2022; 60:176-198. [PMID: 34986056 PMCID: PMC10074763 DOI: 10.1177/13634615211067360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Migrants living in Europe constitute over half of the world's international migrants and are at higher risk of poor mental health than non-migrants, yet also face more barriers in accessing and engaging with services. Furthermore, the quality of care received is shaped by the experiences and attitudes of health professionals. The aim of this review was to identify professionals' attitudes towards migrants receiving mental healthcare and their perceptions of barriers and facilitators to service provision. Four electronic databases were searched, and 23 studies met the inclusion criteria. Using thematic synthesis, we identified three themes: 1) the management of multifaceted and complex challenges associated with the migrant status; 2) professionals' emotional responses to working with migrants; and 3) delivering care in the context of cultural difference. Professionals employed multiple strategies to overcome challenges in providing care yet attitudes towards this patient group were polarized. Professionals described mental health issues as being inseparable from material and social disadvantage, highlighting a need for effective collaboration between health services and voluntary organizations, and partnerships with migrant communities. Specialist supervision, reflective practice, increased training for professionals, and the adoption of a person-centered approach are also needed to overcome the current challenges in meeting migrants' needs. The challenges experienced by health professionals in attempting to meet migrant needs reflect frustrations in being part of a system with insufficient resources and without universal access to care that effectively stigmatizes the migrant status.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Peñuela-O'Brien
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, 5292University of Manchester.,9022Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
| | - M W Wan
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, 5292University of Manchester
| | - D Edge
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, 5292University of Manchester.,9022Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
| | - K Berry
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, 5292University of Manchester.,9022Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
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Poudel-Tandukar K, Jacelon CS, Rai S, Ramdam P, Bertone-Johnson ER, Hollon SD. Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEW) Intervention for Mental Health Promotion Among Resettled Bhutanese Adults in Massachusetts. Community Ment Health J 2021; 57:1318-1327. [PMID: 33387182 DOI: 10.1007/s10597-020-00754-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Preventative behavioral interventions aimed at reducing mental problems among refugees are limited. We assessed the effect of a Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEW) intervention on health-promoting behaviors (coping, social-networking, and conflict-resolution) and health-outcomes (stress, anxiety, and depression) among resettled Bhutanese adults in Western Massachusetts. The study was a community-based SEW intervention with pre-posttest evaluation among 44 Bhutanese adults in Western Massachusetts. The SEW is a culturally tailored 5-week, once-weekly health-education, problem solving, and mind-body exercise program to promote stress management skills. We used validated scales to measure outcomes. Mean scores of mental problems decreased by 5.9 for depression, 9.0 for anxiety, and 5.0 for stress post-intervention (p < 0.01). Mean scores increased by 27.3 for coping, 10.6 for social support, and 20.4 for conflict-resolution. Mean social-network scores increased by 4.6 for family, 4.7 for friends, and 1.8 for community networks (p < 0.01). Our Bhutanese participants reported improvement in their mental health after attending SEW intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
- College of Nursing, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 651 North Pleasant St, Amherst, MA, 01003-9299, USA.
| | - Cynthia S Jacelon
- College of Nursing, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 651 North Pleasant St, Amherst, MA, 01003-9299, USA
| | - Shan Rai
- Bhutanese Christian Society of Western Massachusetts, Westfield, MA, 01085, USA
| | - Purna Ramdam
- Bhutanese Christian Society of Western Massachusetts, Westfield, MA, 01085, USA
| | - Elizabeth R Bertone-Johnson
- School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 715 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003-9304, USA
| | - Steven D Hollon
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA
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Cohen F, Hermosilla S, Knox J, Agaba GS, Obalim G, Kajungu R, Mangen PO, Stark L. Protocol for a caregiver psychosocial support intervention for populations affected by displacement in Uganda. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:932. [PMID: 34001055 PMCID: PMC8127267 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-10921-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Child psychological distress in refugee settings is a significant public health concern, which is exacerbated by poor caregiver mental health and functioning. However, there are limited studies about effective interventions to improve caregiver mental health in support of child wellbeing. The objective of the current study is to evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of the Journey of Life (JoL) intervention to improve caregiver mental health in a refugee camp in Western Uganda. METHODS A waitlist-control quasi-experimental design is being implemented in the Kiryandongo refugee settlement (intervention n = 600, control n = 600). Caregiver mental distress, measured using the Kessler-6, was selected as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes include (a) functioning measured by the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule, (b) social support measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey, and (c) caregiving behaviors according to the Parental Acceptance and Rejection Questionnaire and the Child Protection Index. The study aims to examine the implementation of the JoL intervention through qualitative assessments of intervention feasibility, adaptations, and reach. DISCUSSION This trial will add much-needed evidence for the implementation of caregiver psychosocial programming within the humanitarian community. Findings will be disseminated amongst local, regional, and global actors in order to guide potential scale up within humanitarian settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Trials NCT04817098 (Registered: 3/24/21).
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Affiliation(s)
- Flora Cohen
- Washington University in St. Louis, Box 1196, 1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | | | - Justin Knox
- Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Gary Samuel Agaba
- Transcultural Psychosocial Organization Uganda, P.O. Box 21646, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Grace Obalim
- Transcultural Psychosocial Organization Uganda, P.O. Box 21646, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Rehema Kajungu
- Transcultural Psychosocial Organization Uganda, P.O. Box 21646, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Lindsay Stark
- Washington University in St. Louis, Box 1196, 1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA.
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Vasquez Guzman CE, Hess JM, Casas N, Medina D, Galvis M, Torres DA, Handal AJ, Carreon-Fuentes A, Hernandez-Vallant A, Chavez MJ, Rodriguez F, Goodkind JR. Latinx/@ immigrant inclusion trajectories: Individual agency, structural constraints, and the role of community-based organizations in immigrant mobilities. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPSYCHIATRY 2020; 90:772-786. [PMID: 32853008 DOI: 10.1037/ort0000507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Immigration is at the forefront of national, state, and local policy struggles in the United States, and Latinx/@ immigrants have experienced increased deportations, detention, and individual threats. A mobilities perspective allows analysis to extend our view of migration beyond frameworks confined to pre- and postmigration, examining trajectories of social inclusion and exclusion that are influenced by multiple factors in the receiving country. The Immigrant Well-being Project, a community-based participatory research project involving university faculty, students, staff, and representatives from 4 community-based organizations (CBOs), was initiated in New Mexico in 2017 to better understand and promote Latinx/@ immigrant mental health and integration by creating change at multiple levels. We began these efforts by conducting an in-depth study of the mental health needs, stressors, current socioeconomic, legal, and political context, and local solutions as experienced by 24 Latinx/@ immigrants and their mixed status families. Five trajectories of immigrant integration emerged: continuous exclusion, simultaneous exclusion and inclusion, continuous inclusion, movement from exclusion to inclusion, and movement from inclusion to exclusion. These diverse mobilities were shaped by participants' social locations, agency, and experiences with CBOs, which played critical roles in creating, maintaining, and/or transforming immigrants' trajectories. However, CBOs could not completely buffer immigrants from the current hostile climate and related stressors that resulted in experiences of exclusion or movement from inclusion to exclusion. These findings add to understandings of immigrant mental health, complex ongoing mobility, and mechanisms of resilience and resistance within the United States and have important implications for policy and practice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Alexis J Handal
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health
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Salway S, Such E, Preston L, Booth A, Zubair M, Victor C, Raghavan R. Reducing loneliness among migrant and ethnic minority people: a participatory evidence synthesis. PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH 2020. [DOI: 10.3310/phr08100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
To date, there has been little research into the causes of, and solutions to, loneliness among migrant and ethnic minority people.
Objectives
The objectives were to synthesise available evidence and produce new insights relating to initiatives that aim to address loneliness among these populations, plus the logic, functioning and effects of such initiatives.
Data sources
Electronic database searches (MEDLINE, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts and Social Science Citation Index via Web of Science – no date restrictions were applied), grey literature searches, and citation and reference searching were conducted. Data were generated via nine workshops with three consultation panels involving 34 public contributors, and one practitioner workshop involving 50 participants.
Review methods
Guided by ‘systems thinking’, a theory-driven synthesis was combined with an effectiveness review to integrate evidence on the nature and causes of loneliness, interventional types and programme theory, and intervention implementation and effectiveness.
Results
The theory review indicated that common conceptualisations of ‘loneliness’ can be usefully extended to recognise four proximate determinants when focusing on migrant and ethnic minority populations: positive social ties and interactions, negative social ties and interactions, self-worth, and appraisal of existing ties. A total of 170 interventions were included. A typology of eight interventions was developed. Detailed logic models were developed for three common types of intervention: befriending, shared-identity social support groups and intercultural encounters. The models for the first two types were generally well supported by empirical data; the third was more tentative. Evaluation of intervention processes and outcomes was limited by study content and quality. Evidence from 19 qualitative and six quantitative studies suggested that social support groups have a positive impact on dimensions of loneliness for participants. Evidence from nine qualitative and three quantitative studies suggested that befriending can have positive impacts on loneliness. However, inconsistent achievements of the befriending model meant that some initiatives were ineffective. Few studies on intercultural encounters reported relevant outcomes, although four provided some qualitative evidence and three provided quantitative evidence of improvement. Looking across intervention types, evidence suggests that initiatives targeting the proximate determinants – particularly boosting self-worth – are more effective than those that do not. No evidence was available on the long-term effects of any initiatives. UK intervention (n = 41) and non-intervention (n = 65) studies, together with consultation panel workshop data, contributed to a narrative synthesis of system processes. Interlocking factors operating at individual, family, community, organisational and wider societal levels increase risk of loneliness, and undermine access to, and the impact of, interventions. Racism operates in various ways throughout the system to increase risk of loneliness.
Limitations
There was a lack of high-quality quantitative studies, and there were no studies with longer-term follow-up. UK evidence was very limited. Studies addressing upstream determinants operating at the community and societal levels did not link through to individual outcome measures. Some elements of the search approach may mean that relevant literature was overlooked.
Conclusions
Theory regarding the causes of loneliness, and functioning of interventions, among migrant and ethnic minority populations was usefully developed. Evidence of positive impact on loneliness was strongest for shared-identity social support groups. Quantitative evidence was inadequate. The UK evidence base was extremely limited.
Future work
UK research in this area is desperately needed. Co-production of interventional approaches with migrant and ethnic minority people and evaluation of existing community-based initiatives are priorities.
Study registration
This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42017077378.
Funding
This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research Public Health Research programme and will be published in full in Public Health Research; Vol. 8, No. 10. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Salway
- Department of Sociological Studies, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Elizabeth Such
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Louise Preston
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Andrew Booth
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Maria Zubair
- Faculty of Health, Psychology and Social Care, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | - Christina Victor
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, London, UK
| | - Raghu Raghavan
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
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Goodkind JR, Bybee D, Hess JM, Amer S, Ndayisenga M, Greene RN, Choe R, Isakson B, Baca B, Pannah M. Randomized Controlled Trial of a Multilevel Intervention to Address Social Determinants of Refugee Mental Health. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY 2020; 65:272-289. [PMID: 32067251 PMCID: PMC7579846 DOI: 10.1002/ajcp.12418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Understanding processes that support the well-being of the unprecedented numbers of forcibly displaced people throughout the world is essential. Growing evidence documents post-migration stressors related to marginalization as key social determinants of refugee mental health. The goal of this RCT was to rigorously test a social justice approach to reducing high rates of distress among refugees in the United States. The 6-month multilevel, strengths-based Refugee Well-being Project (RWP) intervention brought together university students enrolled in a 2-semester course and recently resettled refugees to engage in mutual learning and collaborative efforts to mobilize community resources and improve community and systems responsiveness to refugees. Data collected from 290 Afghan, Great Lakes African, Iraqi, and Syrian refugees at four time points over 12 months were used to test the effectiveness of RWP to reduce distress (depression and anxiety symptoms) and increase protective factors (English proficiency, social support, connection to home and American cultures). Intention-to-treat analyses using multilevel modeling revealed significant intervention effects for all hypothesized outcomes. Results provide evidence to support social justice approaches to improving refugee mental health. Findings have implications for refugees worldwide, and for other immigrant and marginalized populations who experience inequities in resources and disproportionate exposure to trauma/stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica R. Goodkind
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Department of Sociology, University of New Mexico, MSC05 3080, Albuquerque, NM 87131, phone: (505) 277-2501, fax: (505) 277-8805,
| | | | | | - Suha Amer
- University of New Mexico Center for Social Policy
| | | | | | - Ryeora Choe
- University of New Mexico Department of Sociology
| | | | - Brandon Baca
- University of New Mexico Center for Social Policy
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Riza E, Kalkman S, Coritsidis A, Koubardas S, Vassiliu S, Lazarou D, Karnaki P, Zota D, Kantzanou M, Psaltopoulou T, Linos A. Community-Based Healthcare for Migrants and Refugees: A Scoping Literature Review of Best Practices. Healthcare (Basel) 2020; 8:E115. [PMID: 32354069 PMCID: PMC7349376 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare8020115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Strengthening community-based healthcare is a valuable strategy to reduce health inequalities and improve the integration of migrants and refugees into local communities in the European Union. However, little is known about how to effectively develop and run community-based healthcare models for migrants and refugees. Aiming at identifying the most-promising best practices, we performed a scoping review of the international academic literature into effective community-based healthcare models and interventions for migrants and refugees as part of the Mig-HealthCare project. METHODS A systematic search in PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus databases was conducted in March 2018 following the PRISMA methodology. Data extraction from eligible publications included information on general study characteristics, a brief description of the intervention/model, and reported outcomes in terms of effectiveness and challenges. Subsequently, we critically assessed the available evidence per type of healthcare service according to specific criteria to establish a shortlist of the most promising best practices. RESULTS In total, 118 academic publications were critically reviewed and categorized in the thematic areas of mental health (n = 53), general health services (n = 36), noncommunicable diseases (n = 13), primary healthcare (n = 9), and women's maternal and child health (n = 7). CONCLUSION A set of 15 of the most-promising best practices and tools in community-based healthcare for migrants and refugees were identified that include several intervention approaches per thematic category. The elements of good communication, the linguistic barriers and the cultural differences, played crucial roles in the effective application of the interventions. The close collaboration of the various stakeholders, the local communities, the migrant/refugee communities, and the partnerships is a key element in the successful implementation of primary healthcare provision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Riza
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Shona Kalkman
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alexandra Coritsidis
- Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8434, USA
| | - Sotirios Koubardas
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Sofia Vassiliu
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Despoina Lazarou
- Institute of Human Sciences, Wadham College, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PN, UK
| | - Panagiota Karnaki
- Prolepsis Institute for Preventive Medicine and Environmental and Occupational Health, 151 21 Marousi, Greece
| | - Dina Zota
- Prolepsis Institute for Preventive Medicine and Environmental and Occupational Health, 151 21 Marousi, Greece
| | - Maria Kantzanou
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Theodora Psaltopoulou
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Athena Linos
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
- Prolepsis Institute for Preventive Medicine and Environmental and Occupational Health, 151 21 Marousi, Greece
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Peterson C, Poudel-Tandukar K, Sanger K, Jacelon CS. Improving Mental Health in Refugee Populations: A Review of Intervention Studies Conducted in the United States. Issues Ment Health Nurs 2020; 41:271-282. [PMID: 31999504 DOI: 10.1080/01612840.2019.1669748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Mental health is one of the most pervasive health concerns in the refugee population due to the combined effects of traumatic experiences prior to migration and post-migration stressors related to resettlement. The objectives of this systematic search were to synthesize evidence on the effectiveness and identify gaps of mental health interventions on mental health outcomes for refugees resettled in the United States. This review search identified a combination of quasi-experimental (7 studies) and qualitative research studies (5 studies). Twelve papers, published between 2003-2017, evaluating twelve different interventions, were selected for review. Studies were conducted in a variety of refugee populations: Africans (8), Southeast Asians (2), Bhutanese (1), and multicultural (1). Interventions included groups/workshops (10) and individual counseling (2). The results from the mental health interventions showed increases in health confidence, health seeking behaviors, consistency with treatment course, English proficiency, quality of life, and level of enculturation. Results also showed decreases in depression and psychological distress. Also identified from this review were different methods for interventions including linguistic and ethnically-matched facilitators versus non-matched facilitators, as well as group interventions versus non-group interventions. These differences were identified in the review and discovered to be areas for further research as these items were not often addressed in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Peterson
- School of Nursing, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Kirk Sanger
- School of Nursing, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Cynthia S Jacelon
- School of Nursing, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
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Hein S, Bick J, Issa G, Aoude L, Maalouf C, Awar A, Nourallah S, Zonderman AL, Householder S, Katsovich L, Khoshnood K, Moore C, Salah R, Britto PR, Leckman JF, Ponguta LA. Maternal perceptions of father involvement among refugee and disadvantaged families in Beirut, Lebanon. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0229670. [PMID: 32134961 PMCID: PMC7058288 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of fathers in (co-)parenting their children among refugee and disadvantaged families in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains poorly understood. This study sought to examine the associations among mothers' perceptions of their husband's involvement (hereafter referred to as paternal involvement), and her perceptions of her own well-being and a number of other variables, as well as observed mother-child interactions in families living in refugee and disadvantaged communities in Beirut, Lebanon. We analyzed baseline data from 104 mother-child dyads (mean age of children = 4.34 years; range = 2.05 to 7.93 years of age) who participated in a randomized controlled trial aimed at evaluating the impact of the Mother-Child Education Program in Beirut. In addition to the mother's perception of paternal involvement and the videotaped mother-child interactions, data were collected concerning the mother's well-being and her level of social support, as well as her level of stress as a parent and the way her children were disciplined in the family. Mother-child pairs were videotaped while completing a puzzle together and dyadic interactions were coded. Path analysis showed that paternal involvement was significantly associated with a higher level of maternal well-being and lower distress levels. In addition, higher levels of maternal distress were associated with higher levels of harsh discipline and parenting stress. Correlation analysis showed that higher perceptions of paternal involvement were associated with more positive affect displayed by the child, more positive regard for the child, and better mother-child synchrony during the dyadic interactions. Limitations include the cross-sectional design and the modest sample size, which hinder causal inferences and generalizability of the findings. These preliminary findings suggest that higher levels of paternal involvement may have an impact on markers of maternal mental health and positive mother-child interactions in families living in disadvantaged communities or humanitarian settings. Paternal involvement should be considered when designing and implementing parenting programs in LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sascha Hein
- Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johanna Bick
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | | | - Lara Aoude
- Arab Resource Collective, Beirut, Lebanon
| | | | - Abir Awar
- Arab Resource Collective, Beirut, Lebanon
| | | | - Anna L. Zonderman
- UChicago Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Sarah Householder
- Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Liliya Katsovich
- Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Kaveh Khoshnood
- Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Christina Moore
- Department of Psychology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, United States of America
| | - Rima Salah
- Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Pia R. Britto
- UNICEF, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - James F. Leckman
- Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
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Cook BL, Hou SSY, Lee-Tauler SY, Progovac AM, Samson F, Sanchez MJ. A Review of Mental Health and Mental Health Care Disparities Research: 2011-2014. Med Care Res Rev 2019; 76:683-710. [PMID: 29877136 DOI: 10.1177/1077558718780592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2024]
Abstract
Racial/ethnic minorities in the United States are more likely than Whites to have severe and persistent mental disorders and less likely to access mental health care. This comprehensive review evaluates studies of mental health and mental health care disparities funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to provide a benchmark for the 2015 NIMH revised strategic plan. A total of 615 articles were categorized into five pathways underlying mental health care and three pathways underlying mental health disparities. Identified studies demonstrate that socioeconomic mechanisms and demographic moderators of disparities in mental health status and treatment are well described, as are treatment options that support diverse patient needs. In contrast, there is a need for studies that focus on community- and policy-level predictors of mental health care disparities, link discrimination- and trauma-induced neurobiological pathways to disparities in mental illness, assess the cost effectiveness of disparities reduction programs, and scale up culturally adapted interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Lê Cook
- Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, North Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Su Yeon Lee-Tauler
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, North Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ana Maria Progovac
- Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, North Bethesda, MD, USA
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Hess JM, Isakson BL, Amer S, Ndaheba E, Baca B, Goodkind JR. REFUGEE MENTAL HEALTH AND HEALING: UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF POLICIES OF RAPID ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MEANINGFUL WORK. JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION AND INTEGRATION 2019; 20:769-786. [PMID: 31543699 DOI: 10.1007/s12134-018-0628-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Although refugees who are accepted for resettlement in a third country are guaranteed certain rights and experience safety from war and persecution, they face many mental health challenges. Using qualitative methods and constructivist grounded theory, we explored culturally-specific perspectives on trauma and recovery among Burundian, Congolese and Iraqi refugees resettled in the United States. Eighteen semi-structured interviews provided extensive data on the meaning of productivity and work, the ways in which they index normalcy and self-sufficiency, and how they create security that facilitates the healing process. Our inductive analyses revealed that participants emphasized the relationship between productivity and healing when they described recovery from trauma. Participants also discussed individual and structural facilitators and barriers to work. Finally, prominent themes emerged around gendered roles and expectations and the ways these function in refugee resettlement contexts that are shaped by policies that demand rapid economic self-sufficiency. Taken together, these findings suggest that policies that promote underemployment and foreclose opportunities for education and professional development may contribute negatively to refugee mental health, as well as keep refugees in poverty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Meredith Hess
- Departments of Anthropology and Pediatrics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, ,
| | - Brian L Isakson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, ,
| | - Suha Amer
- Department of Sociology, MSC05 3080, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, ,
| | - Eric Ndaheba
- Department of Sociology, MSC05 3080, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, ,
| | - Brandon Baca
- Department of Sociology, MSC05 3080, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, ,
| | - Jessica R Goodkind
- Department of Sociology, MSC05 3080, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, ,
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Wanna CP, Seehuus M, Mazzulla E, Fondacaro K. A house is not a home: Modeling the effects of social support and connection within resettled refugee populations. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY 2019; 47:1629-1644. [PMID: 31269244 DOI: 10.1002/jcop.22218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
AIM The U.S. resettlement program currently resettles refugees in communities of similar or the same ethnic background known as like-ethnic communities. This practice provides resettled refugees with a familiar community who may be able to provide support through the difficult resettlement process. However, by associating with a like-ethnic community, resettled refugees may limit interaction with the host community, which may have subsequent adverse effects on well-being. METHODS This study examined whether satisfaction with community support is moderated by a premigration factor (trauma history) or a postmigration factor (English fluency) in predicting depressive symptoms in a resettled refugee community (N = 179). Four moderation models were analyzed and compared. RESULTS The model in which English fluency moderated the relationship between satisfaction with community support and depressive symptoms had the best overall model fit. In addition, trauma history was found to also be a meaningful but secondary moderator within this relationship. English fluency and trauma history within this study did not significantly interact. CONCLUSION These results highlight the importance of early English language lessons and community support during resettlement. Further, they emphasize the need to integrate refugees with individuals from similar backgrounds, as well as with host communities throughout resettlement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra P Wanna
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
- Department of Psychology, Middlebury College, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Martin Seehuus
- Department of Psychology, Middlebury College, Burlington, Vermont
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
- University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York
| | - Emily Mazzulla
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Karen Fondacaro
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
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Myhrvold T, Småstuen MC. Undocumented migrants' life situations: An exploratory analysis of quality of life and living conditions in a sample of undocumented migrants living in Norway. J Clin Nurs 2018; 28:2073-2087. [PMID: 30552720 DOI: 10.1111/jocn.14743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To gather insight in conditions important to an understanding of undocumented migrants' life situations and more specifically to explore undocumented migrants' quality of life and how we can understand the various domains of quality of life related to demographics, living conditions, migration history and inflicted burden. BACKGROUND Undocumented migrants suffer from economic hardship and acculturative stress, limited psychological and social support and at the same time restricted access to health care and social welfare. DESIGN An exploratory mixed methods design using primarily quantitative data with a qualitative component was implemented. METHODS Sociodemographic data on 90 undocumented migrants were collected, and self-report questionnaires on quality of life and psychological distress were completed, supplemented by qualitative data obtained through interviews and additional qualitative questions. The STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies was used for reporting this study. RESULTS Quality of life in our group of undocumented migrants was poor. Leaving their home country because of war or persecution, hunger, having experienced abuse, homelessness and higher age were statistically significantly associated with poorer quality of life. Having membership in a local association and having a partner were statistically significantly associated with better quality of life. Qualitative data indicate that marginal living conditions, fear of death and suffering and conditions associated with dependency were the main components comprising the burden to our respondents, reflecting their precarious juridical status as undocumented migrants. CONCLUSION Our respondents' poor quality of life was related to the complex interplay between possible exposures to traumatic experiences before and during flight and post-migration traumatisation in relation to our respondents' experiences of economic, social and acculturative hardship in Norway. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Responses called for to improve undocumented migrants' quality of life and eliminate barriers to their health care appeal more to nurses as a professional group and to those in positions of authority than each individual nurse on duty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trine Myhrvold
- Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo Met - Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
| | - Milada C Småstuen
- Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo Met - Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
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Giammusso I, Casadei F, Catania N, Foddai E, Monti MC, Savoja G, Tosto C. Immigrants Psychopathology: Emerging Phenomena and Adaptation of Mental Health Care Setting by Native Language. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health 2018; 14:312-322. [PMID: 30972131 PMCID: PMC6407656 DOI: 10.2174/1745017901814010312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Mental health of immigrants is an important social and clinical issue. Immigrants may report higher rates of mental disorders and lower levels of use of mental health service with respect to natives. The aim of the present work is to review recent findings of the psychopathology of immigrants and analyze how to adapt the mental care settings through the use of mother tongues. We searched the literature to individuate and review the most recent scientific articles focused on the psychopathology of immigrants realized in Europe. Moreover, we summarized the guidelines about immigrants mental health care and we focused on the barriers caused by language. We individuated 15 papers reporting data about mental disorders among immigrants and the related risk and protective factors. The articles reported information about psychosis, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, somatization and suicide rates. Risk and protective factors are individuated mainly among social factors (e.g. ethnic density effect, hosting countries' policies). Furthermore, immigrants encounter language barriers in the use of mental care services. The realization of cross-cultural training and the development of a working alliance between clinicians and interpreters resulted to be effective solutions even if these interventions are not frequently implemented. The extent of migratory flows and the related difficulties experienced by immigrants require attention and well-informed interventions. The high rates of incidence of mental disorder and the strict number of services who implement interventions taking into accounts fundamental aspect as language show that there is still a lot to do.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Giammusso
- Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.,Associazione PLP, Psicologi Liberi Professionisti, Via Pasteur, 65, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Casadei
- Associazione PLP, Psicologi Liberi Professionisti, Via Pasteur, 65, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicolay Catania
- Associazione PLP, Psicologi Liberi Professionisti, Via Pasteur, 65, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Foddai
- Associazione PLP, Psicologi Liberi Professionisti, Via Pasteur, 65, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Monti
- Associazione PLP, Psicologi Liberi Professionisti, Via Pasteur, 65, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgia Savoja
- Associazione PLP, Psicologi Liberi Professionisti, Via Pasteur, 65, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Crispino Tosto
- Istituto per le Tecnologie Didattiche, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Palermo, Italy
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Murphy JE, Smock L, Hunter-Adams J, Xuan Z, Cochran J, Paasche-Orlow MK, Geltman PL. Relationships Between English Language Proficiency, Health Literacy, and Health Outcomes in Somali Refugees. J Immigr Minor Health 2018; 21:451-460. [DOI: 10.1007/s10903-018-0765-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Steel JL, Dunlavy AC, Harding CE, Theorell T. The Psychological Consequences of Pre-Emigration Trauma and Post-Migration Stress in Refugees and Immigrants from Africa. J Immigr Minor Health 2018; 19:523-532. [PMID: 27562386 DOI: 10.1007/s10903-016-0478-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Over 50 million people have been displaced, some as a result of conflict, which exposure can lead to psychiatric sequelae. The aims of this study were to provide estimates of pre-emigration trauma, post-migration stress, and psychological sequelae of immigrants and refugees from predominantly Sub-Saharan Africa who immigrated to Sweden. We also examined the predictors of the psychiatric sequelae as well as acculturation within the host country. A total of 420 refugees and immigrants were enrolled using stratified quota sampling. A battery of questionnaires including the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, Post-Migration Living Difficulties Scale, the Cultural Lifestyle Questionnaire; and the Hopkins Checklist were administered. Descriptive statistics, Chi square analyses, Pearson correlations, analysis of variance, and logistic and linear regression were performed to test the aims of the study. Eighty-nine percent of participants reported at least one traumatic experience prior to emigration. Forty-seven percent of refugees reported clinically significant PTSD and 20 % reported clinically significant depressive symptoms. Males reported a significantly greater number of traumatic events [F(1, 198) = 14.5, p < 0.001] and post-migration stress than females [F(1, 414) = 5.3, p = 0.02], particularly on the financial, discrimination, and healthcare subscales. Females reported a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms when compared to males [F(1, 419) = 3.9, p = 0.05]. Those with a shorter duration in Sweden reported higher rates of PTSD [F(63, 419) = 1.7, p < 0.001]. The greater number of traumatic events was found to be significantly associated with the severity of PTSD symptoms [F(34, 419) = 9.6, p < 0.001]. Using regression analysis, 82 and 83 % of the variances associated with anxiety and depression, respectively, was explained by gender, education, religion, PTSD and post-migration stress. Sixty-nine percent of the variance associated with PTSD included education, number of traumatic events, depressive symptoms and post-migration stress. Forty-seven percent of the variance for acculturation was accounted for by a model that included age, education, duration in Sweden, anxiety, depression, and post-migration stress. These predictors were also significant for employment status with the exception of depressive symptoms. Multidimensional interventions that provide treatments to improve psychiatric symptoms in combination with advocacy and support to reduce stress (e.g., financial, access to health care) are recommended. The focus of the intervention may also be modified based on the gender of the participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Steel
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
| | - Andrea C Dunlavy
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Collette E Harding
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Töres Theorell
- Department of Neuroscience Karolinska Institute, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
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40
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Hess JM, Isakson B, Nelson M, Goodkind JR. "My World is Upside Down": Transnational Iraqi Youth and Parent Perspectives on Resettlement in the United States. JOURNAL OF IMMIGRANT & REFUGEE STUDIES 2017; 16:391-412. [PMID: 30983922 PMCID: PMC6457466 DOI: 10.1080/15562948.2017.1338367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The U.S. war with Iraq led to the displacement of millions of Iraqis, many of whom have resettled in the United States as refugees. We explore the challenges Iraqi families face after resettlement, with a particular focus on the agency of refugees and challenges/opportunities of familial social reproduction in a transnational context. We conducted 181 qualitative interviews with 38 Iraqis (11 youth, 27 adults) and 5 service providers. Our findings highlight the importance of exploring refugee agency and illuminate how the interplay between structure and agency in transnational contexts is a useful framework for understanding transformations around social roles.
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41
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Belz M, Belz M, Özkan I, Graef-Calliess IT. Posttraumatic stress disorder and comorbid depression among refugees: Assessment of a sample from a German refugee reception center. Transcult Psychiatry 2017; 54:595-610. [PMID: 29226790 DOI: 10.1177/1363461517745473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
In 2015, a large number of refugees arrived in Germany, mostly driven to emigrate by devastating circumstances in their countries of origin. Arriving refugees are distributed to reception centers within the German federal states, frequently facing marginal conditions in terms of overcrowding or waiting time of several months until their application for asylum is processed. Most of these refugees underwent numerous traumatizing experiences-both in their country of origin and while fleeing from their country of origin. Furthermore, they faced and will likely continue to face various access barriers to mental health care. In this study, we assessed a sample of 85 refugees from a reception center in Germany selected due to their observed psychological strain. Results showed that the majority suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder, mostly with symptoms of intrusion, hyperarousal, avoidance, and dissociation. Most refugees also suffered from comorbid depression. We discuss implications of these findings for reception services and the need for more preventive psychiatric care.
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Morgan G, Melluish S, Welham A. Exploring the relationship between postmigratory stressors and mental health for asylum seekers and refused asylum seekers in the UK. Transcult Psychiatry 2017; 54:653-674. [PMID: 29134922 DOI: 10.1177/1363461517737188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Numerous studies have linked the high rates of traumatic events experienced by refugees to the elevated rate of mental health problems in these populations. A growing body of evidence has also highlighted the importance of considering postmigratory stressors when making sense of displaced person distress. This study explored the relationship between mental health and postmigratory stress for asylum seekers and refused asylum seekers in Britain. The study further examined if those refused asylum experienced elevated distress and postmigratory stress compared to those awaiting the outcome of asylum applications. Results indicated that participants ( N = 97) had endured a range of pre- and postmigratory stressors and had high scores on measures of anxiety, depression, and PTSD. A postmigratory factor comprising items associated with isolation, restrictive policies, and stressors associated with having an insecure immigration status, was significantly associated with PTSD scores. This relationship remained when controlling for the variance accounted for by premigratory trauma predictors. Being refused asylum was the strongest predictor of depression and anxiety. Those refused asylum scored higher on a factor associated with barriers to accessing services. Social materialist theories of distress are drawn upon to contextualise the heightened vulnerability of those refused asylum. The paper concludes by emphasising the problems associated with taking an exclusively trauma-focussed approach when working with asylum seekers and argues for community orientated interventions to support displaced people to cope with the various stressors endured in exile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gareth Morgan
- University of Leicester, Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
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43
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Galina VF, Silva TBBD, Haydu M, Martin D. A saúde mental dos refugiados: um olhar sobre estudos qualitativos. INTERFACE - COMUNICAÇÃO, SAÚDE, EDUCAÇÃO 2017. [DOI: 10.1590/1807-57622016.0929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
As experiências que levam pessoas a solicitarem refúgio envolvem fatores com potencial de desencadear desordens mentais. O objetivo desta revisão de literatura é apresentar o estado da arte sobre a saúde mental dos refugiados. O levantamento dos artigos foi realizado na coleção Social Science Citation Index® na Web of Science™. Foram identificados 35 estudos qualitativos em periódicos internacionais de 1993 a janeiro de 2016. A análise focou na saúde mental de refugiados adultos, na saúde mental de refugiados na infância e adolescência, e nos cuidados em saúde de refugiados. Houve um aumento desta produção nos últimos anos, e os estudos evidenciaram temas como: a diversidade cultural, a importância da família e das redes de apoio, a atuação dos profissionais envolvidos com estes grupos, a presença ou não de doença mental, as intervenções e o comprometimento com os direitos humanos.
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44
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The mental health of civilians displaced by armed conflict: an ecological model of refugee distress. Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci 2017; 26:129-138. [PMID: 27040595 PMCID: PMC6998767 DOI: 10.1017/s2045796016000172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 211] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Early research on the mental health of civilians displaced by armed conflict focused primarily on the direct effects of exposure to war-related violence and loss. Largely overlooked in this war exposure model were the powerful effects of ongoing stressors related to the experience of displacement itself. An ecological model of refugee distress is proposed, drawing on research demonstrating that mental health among refugees and asylum seekers stems not only from prior war exposure, but also from a host of ongoing stressors in their social ecology, or displacement-related stressors. Implications of this model for addressing the mental health and psychosocial needs of refugees and other displaced populations are considered.
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45
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Karageorge A, Rhodes P, Gray R, Papadopoulos R. Refugee and staff experiences of psychotherapeutic services. INTERVENTION 2017. [DOI: 10.1097/wtf.0000000000000137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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46
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Gendered Sources of Distress and Resilience among Afghan Refugees in Northern California: A Cross-Sectional Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2016; 14:ijerph14010025. [PMID: 28036054 PMCID: PMC5295276 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14010025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Revised: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have emphasized the influence of resettlement factors on the mental health of refugees resettling in developed countries. However, little research has addressed gender differences in the nature and influence of resettlement stressors and sources of resilience. We address this gap in knowledge by investigating how gender moderates and mediates the influence of several sources of distress and resilience among 259 Afghan refugees residing in Northern California (USA). Gender moderated the effects of four factors on levels of distress. Intimate and extended family ties have little correlation with men’s distress levels, but are strongly associated with lower distress for women. English ability is positively associated with lower distress for women, but not men. In terms of gender ideology, traditionally oriented women and egalitarian men have lower levels of distress. And experiencing greater dissonant acculturation increases distress for men, but not women. The influence of gender interaction terms is substantial and patterns may reflect difficulty adapting to a different gender order. Future studies of similar populations should investigate gender differences in sources of distress and resilience, and efforts to assist new arrivals might inform them of changes in gender roles they may experience, and facilitate opportunities to renegotiate gender roles.
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47
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Goodkind JR, Amer S, Christian C, Hess JM, Bybee D, Isakson BL, Baca B, Ndayisenga M, Greene RN, Shantzek C. Challenges and Innovations in a Community-Based Participatory Randomized Controlled Trial. HEALTH EDUCATION & BEHAVIOR 2016; 44:123-130. [PMID: 27179291 DOI: 10.1177/1090198116639243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are a long-standing and important design for conducting rigorous tests of the effectiveness of health interventions. However, many questions have been raised about the external validity of RCTs, their utility in explicating mechanisms of intervention and participants' intervention experiences, and their feasibility and acceptability. In the current mixed-methods study, academic and community partners developed and implemented an RCT to test the effectiveness of a collaboratively developed community-based advocacy, learning, and social support intervention. The goals of the intervention were to address social determinants of health and build trust and connections with other mental health services in order to reduce mental health disparities among Afghan, Great Lakes Region African, and Iraqi refugee adults and to engage and retain refugees in trauma-focused treatment, if needed. Two cohorts completed the intervention between 2013 and 2015. Ninety-three adult refugees were randomly assigned to intervention or control group and completed four research interviews (pre-, mid-, and postintervention, and follow-up). Several challenges to conducting a community-based RCT emerged, including issues related to interviewer intervention to assist participants in the control group, diffusion of intervention resources throughout the small refugee communities, and staff and community concerns about the RCT design and what evidence is meaningful to demonstrate intervention effectiveness. These findings highlight important epistemological, methodological, and ethical challenges that should be considered when conducting community-based RCTs and interpreting results from them. In addition, several innovations were developed to address these challenges, which may be useful for other community-academic partnerships engaged in RCTs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Suha Amer
- 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Brandon Baca
- 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
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Alemi Q, Weller SC, Montgomery S, James S. Afghan Refugee Explanatory Models of Depression: Exploring Core Cultural Beliefs and Gender Variations. Med Anthropol Q 2016; 31:177-197. [PMID: 27112930 DOI: 10.1111/maq.12296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2015] [Revised: 03/15/2016] [Accepted: 04/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Relatively little empirical attention has been paid to understanding how refugees conceptualize depression and how this concept varies between genders. The purpose of this study was to explore beliefs about depression among Afghans residing in San Diego County, California, using cultural consensus analysis. Using the prescribed mixed-method approach, we employed results from in-depth interviews to develop a culturally meaningful questionnaire about depression. Consensus analysis of responses to questionnaire items from 93 Afghans (50 men, 43 women) indicates shared beliefs that associates depression causality with mild traumatic experiences and post-resettlement stressors, symptomatology to include culturally salient idioms of distress, and treatment selections ranging from lay techniques to professional care. Divergence between genders occurred most in the symptoms subdomain, with women associating depression with more somatic items. This study contributes to understanding the etiology of and cultural responses to depression among this population, which is critical to improving culturally sensitive intervention for Afghan refugees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qais Alemi
- Department of Social Work and Social Ecology, School of Behavioral Health
| | - Susan C Weller
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
| | - Susanne Montgomery
- Department of Social Work and Social Ecology & Behavioral Health Institute, Loma Linda University
| | - Sigrid James
- Department of Social Work and Social Ecology, Loma Linda University
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Hartwig KA, Mason M. Community Gardens for Refugee and Immigrant Communities as a Means of Health Promotion. J Community Health 2016; 41:1153-1159. [DOI: 10.1007/s10900-016-0195-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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50
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Nelson M, Hess JM, Isakson B, Goodkind J. "Seeing the Life": Redefining self-worth and family roles among Iraqi refugee families resettled in the United States. JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION AND INTEGRATION 2015; 17:707-722. [PMID: 28966556 DOI: 10.1007/s12134-015-0441-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Social and geographic displacement is a global phenomenon that precipitates novel stressors and disruptions that intersect with longstanding familial and social roles. Among the displaced are war-torn Iraqi refugee families, who must address these new obstacles in unconventional ways. This study explores how such disruptions have influenced associations between gender and apparent self-worth experienced by Iraqi refugee families upon relocation to the United States. Further, the psychosocial mechanisms requisite of any novel approach to a new social construct are explored and reveal that production in the family is at the core of instability and shifting power dynamics during resettlement, preventing family members from "seeing the life" in the United States that they had envisioned prior to immigration. Over 200 semi-structured qualitative interviews with Iraqi participants and mental health providers were conducted over the course of the study, and demonstrate a plasticity among social roles in the family and community that transcends the notion of a simple role reversal, and illustrate the complex positionalities that families under stress must approximate during such physical and social displacement.
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