Psychological Services
Volume 11, Issue 3, 2014, Pages 333-346

Reducing refugee mental health disparities: A community-based intervention to address postmigration stressors with African adults (Article)

Goodkind J.R.* , Hess J.M. , Isakson B. , LaNoue M. , Githinji A. , Roche N. , Vadnais K. , Parker D.P.
  • a Department of Sociology, University of New Mexico, United States
  • b Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, United States
  • c Department of Psychiatry, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, United States
  • d Department of Family and Community Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, United States
  • e Department of Anthropology, University of Virginia, United States
  • f Department of Sociology, University of New Mexico, United States
  • g Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, United States
  • h Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, United States

Abstract

Refugees resettled in the United States have disproportionately high rates of psychological distress. Research has demonstrated the roles of postmigration stressors, including lack of meaningful social roles, poverty, unemployment, lack of environmental mastery, discrimination, limited English proficiency, and social isolation. We report a multimethod, within-group longitudinal pilot study involving the adaptation for African refugees of a community-based advocacy and learning intervention to address postmigration stressors. We found the intervention to be feasible, acceptable, and appropriate for African refugees. Growth trajectory analysis revealed significant decreases in participants' psychological distress and increases in quality of life, and also provided preliminary evidence of intervention mechanisms of change through the detection of mediating relationships whereby increased quality of life was mediated by increases in enculturation, English proficiency, and social support. Qualitative data helped to support and explain the quantitative data. Results demonstrate the importance of addressing the sociopolitical context of resettlement to promote the mental health of refugees and suggest a culturally appropriate, and replicable model for doing so. © 2014 American Psychological Association.

Author Keywords

social determinants of health Mixed-methods health disparities Mental health intervention Refugees

Index Keywords

refugee health disparity Health Status Disparities mental health human Refugees middle aged Stress, Psychological mental stress Aged quality of life Young Adult United States Humans psychology Black person Adolescent African Continental Ancestry Group male female adult Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84905105263&doi=10.1037%2fa0035081&partnerID=40&md5=582bf94190ab007af2f87d159c95b0e6
DOI: 10.1037/a0035081
ISSN: 15411559
Cited by: 24
Original Language: English