Psychological Medicine
Volume 49, Issue 10, 2019, Pages 1661-1669

Longitudinal association between trust, psychological symptoms and community engagement in resettled refugees (Article) (Open Access)

Nickerson A.* , Liddell B.J. , Keegan D. , Edwards B. , Felmingham K.L. , Forbes D. , Hadzi-Pavlovic D. , McFarlane A.C. , O'Donnell M. , Silove D. , Steel Z. , Van Hooff M. , Bryant R.A.
  • a School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  • b School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  • c HOST International, Sydney, Australia
  • d Centre for Social Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
  • e School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  • f Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia, Phoenix Australia, Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, Carlton, VIC, Australia
  • g School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  • h Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
  • i Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia, Phoenix Australia, Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, Carlton, VIC, Australia
  • j School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  • k School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, St John of God Health Care, Richmond Hospital, North Richmond, Australia
  • l Centre for Traumatic Stress, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
  • m School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Abstract

Background The mental health and social functioning of millions of forcibly displaced individuals worldwide represents a key public health priority for host governments. This is the first longitudinal study with a representative sample to examine the impact of interpersonal trust and psychological symptoms on community engagement in refugees.Methods Participants were 1894 resettled refugees, assessed within 6 months of receiving a permanent visa in Australia, and again 2-3 years later. Variables measured included post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, depression/anxiety symptoms, interpersonal trust and engagement with refugees' own and other communities.Results A multilevel path analysis was conducted, with the final model evidencing good fit (Comparative Fit Index = 0.97, Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.89, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.05, Standardized Root-Mean-Square-Residual = 0.05). Findings revealed that high levels of depression symptoms were associated with lower subsequent engagement with refugees' own communities. In contrast, low levels of interpersonal trust were associated with lower engagement with the host community over the same timeframe.Conclusions Findings point to differential pathways to social engagement in the medium-term post-resettlement. Results indicate that depression symptoms are linked to reduced engagement with one's own community, while interpersonal trust is implicated in engagement with the broader community in the host country. These findings have potentially important implications for policy and clinical practice, suggesting that clinical and support services should target psychological symptoms and interpersonal processes when fostering positive adaptation in resettled refugees. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018.

Author Keywords

Community engagement Post-traumatic stress disorder Social support Depression Refugees Trust

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85053003638&doi=10.1017%2fS0033291718002246&partnerID=40&md5=c1339d18ce817c117eefae16c81d5d0f
DOI: 10.1017/S0033291718002246
ISSN: 00332917
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English