Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
Volume 206, Issue 1, 2018, Pages 33-39

Predicting the mental health and functioning of torture survivors (Article)

Song S.J.* , Subica A. , Kaplan C. , Tol W. , De Jong J.
  • a University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR), AISSR/Universiteit Van Amsterdam, Netherlands, George Washington University Medical Center, 2120 L St NW, Washington, DC 20037, United States
  • b Loyola Marymount University-Los Angeles, United States
  • c University of Southern California, Social Work, LA, United States
  • d Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
  • e University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR), AISSR/Universiteit Van Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

The psychological effects of war represent a growing public health concern as more refugees and asylum seekers migrate across borders. This study investigates whether sociodemographic, premigration and postmigration, and psychosocial factors predict adverse psychiatric symptoms in refugees and asylum seekers exposed to torture (N = 278). Hierarchical linear regressions revealed that female sex, older age, and unstable housing predicted greater severity of anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression. Cumulative exposure to multiple torture types predicted anxiety and PTSD, while mental health, basic resources (access to food, shelter, medical care), and external risks (risk of being victimized at home, community, work, school) were the strongest psychosocial predictors of anxiety, PTSD, and depression. Also, time spent in the United States before presenting for services significantly predicted anxiety, PTSD, and depression. Consequently, public-sector services should seek to engage this high-risk population immediately upon resettlement into the host country using a mental health stepped care approach. Copyright © 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

trauma Mental health War Refugee policy

Index Keywords

anxiety depression social psychology refugee mental health human sex difference Refugees social aspect housing torture survivor mental disease asylum seeker cross-sectional study migrant psychology Humans male Emigrants and Immigrants female risk factor Risk Factors mental function Article adult migration age sex factor Sex Factors Age Factors Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic posttraumatic stress disorder Linear Models disease severity statistical model Torture
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85016100837&doi=10.1097%2fNMD.0000000000000678&partnerID=40&md5=84ecd3412ad9fd8d9651485517a530ee
DOI: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000678
ISSN: 00223018
Cited by: 5
Original Language: English