American Journal of Orthopsychiatry
Volume 88, Issue 1, 2018, Pages 38-47

Acculturation and post-migration psychological symptoms among iraqi refugees: A path analysis (Article)

LeMaster J.W.* , Broadbridge C.L. , Lumley M.A. , Arnetz J.E. , Arfken C. , Fetters M.D. , Jamil H. , Pole N. , Arnetz B.B.
  • a Department of Family Medicine, Family Medicine Research Division, University of Kansas, United States
  • b Division of Social Sciences, Kentucky Wesleyan College, United States, St. Xavier University, United States
  • c Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, United States
  • d Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University, United States, Department of Family Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, United States
  • e Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, United States
  • f Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan, United States
  • g Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University, United States, Department of Family Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, United States
  • h Department of Psychology, Smith College, United States
  • i Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University, United States, Department of Family Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, United States

Abstract

Refugees frequently experience symptoms of posttraumatic stress and depression, which impede their acculturation in the new host country where they are resettling. There are few longitudinal studies investigating predictors of mental health and acculturation during the early postmigration period. We conducted a longitudinal study of 298 Iraqi refugees, assessing them upon arrival to the U.S. and 1 year after migration. Premigration trauma was associated with increased PTSD and depressive symptoms at baseline, and with decreased acculturation 1 year later. Resilience was associated with depressive symptoms at 1-year follow-up, but not with other resettlement outcomes (PTSD symptoms, English-language skills, or acculturation). PTSD and depressive symptoms at baseline predicted the same symptoms at 1-year follow-up, but not any other resettlement outcomes. The number of chronic diseases at baseline predicted worse PTSD and depressive symptoms, acculturation, and English language skills at 1-year follow up. Postmigratory exposure to daily stressors and less social support predicted worse 1-year outcomes. Results suggest that interventions that aim to improve mental health and promote acculturation among refugees should assess their history of trauma, chronic disorders, and psychological symptoms soon after migration, and promptly provide opportunities for social support. © 2017 Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice.

Author Keywords

Mental health Refugees Structural equation models Acculturation

Index Keywords

depression longitudinal study refugee health care survey Iraqi demography follow up mental health human Longitudinal Studies Refugees Stress, Psychological mental stress Iraq controlled study social support ethnology mental disease United States Humans psychology male Acculturation female cultural factor Resilience, Psychological Article psychological resilience major clinical study adult migration posttraumatic stress disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Emigration and Immigration community assessment DSM-IV Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85014119075&doi=10.1037%2fort0000240&partnerID=40&md5=ea4b1d00aa94df0e16f10458e52140e5
DOI: 10.1037/ort0000240
ISSN: 00029432
Cited by: 8
Original Language: English