The relationship between posttraumatic stress reactions, cultural adaptation, and mental health symptoms is still poorly understood. This empirical study examined the relative contribution of both posttraumatic reactions and acculturation rates to subjective mental health in 2 groups of Bosnian refugees, a clinical group (N = 34) and a nonclinical community group (N = 44). As hypothesized, posttraumatic reactions were highly predictive of mental health state in both groups. In addition, two specific acculturation aspects, cultural affiliation and the obtaining of instrumental skills, were significantly related to mental health symptoms. The implications of these findings for mental health professionals working with refugees and other traumatized populations are considered. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Mental health Bosnian refugees posttraumatic stress Acculturation

empiricism Netherlands symptomatology refugee adaptation Social Identification human Refugees comorbidity statistics middle aged Bosnia and Herzegovina Adaptation, Psychological Depressive Disorder Health Surveys Anxiety Disorders Bosnia-Herzegovina Humans male Acculturation Socioeconomic Factors female stress Risk Factors cultural factor Article major clinical study adult posttraumatic stress disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic skill personality assessment Somatoform Disorders