Journal of Muslim Mental Health
Volume 12, Issue 2, 2018, Pages 1-12

Recent Iraqi refugees: Association between ethnic identification and psychological distress (Review) (Open Access)

Arfken C.L.* , Alsaud M. , Mischel E.F. , Haddad L. , Sonderman S. , Lister J.J. , Javanbakht A.
  • a Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, 3901 Chrysler Service Drive, Detroit, MI 48201, United States
  • b Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, 3901 Chrysler Service Drive, Detroit, MI 48201, United States
  • c Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, 3901 Chrysler Service Drive, Detroit, MI 48201, United States
  • d Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, 3901 Chrysler Service Drive, Detroit, MI 48201, United States
  • e Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, 3901 Chrysler Service Drive, Detroit, MI 48201, United States
  • f School of Social Work, Wayne State University, United States
  • g University of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, 3901 Chrysler Service Drive, Detroit, MI 48201, United States

Abstract

Psychological distress may differ by ethnic affiliation among recent Iraqi refugees due to a combination of risk and resiliency factors. To explore this hypothesis, data were collected from a study conducted over the course of a year (June 2016 to May 2017) of Iraqi refugees screened within one month of arrival to the United States; the screening used the PTSD Checklist Civilian for trauma symptoms and the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist for anxiety and depression, and these markers were analyzed. Of the 52 Iraqi refugees (59.6% women, mean age=38.4), 18 identified as Chaldean or Christian and 34 as Arab, presumably Muslim. Mean scores on trauma, anxiety, and depression symptoms were significantly elevated with moderate effect sizes (d=0.51 for trauma and d=0.63 for depression) and large effect size (d=0.80 for anxiety) in Arab compared to Chaldean refugees. All measures of psychological distress and a one-item self-rating of the impact of war and migration were correlated. These findings suggest that among recently resettled Iraqi refugees in the U.S., Arabs had higher psychological distress than Chaldeans. To maximize resettlement success, we need to examine ways to reduce their distress. © 2018 Michigan Publishing. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Arab Depression Iraq Refugees Anxiety PTSD

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85069057335&doi=10.3998%2fjmmh.10381607.0012.201&partnerID=40&md5=9b4f6a52aafe34b7cc7a707a567d9c75
DOI: 10.3998/jmmh.10381607.0012.201
ISSN: 15564908
Original Language: English