Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
Volume 40, Issue 5, 2011, Pages 742-755

Late-onset PTSD in unaccompanied refugee minors: Exploring the predictive utility of depression and anxiety symptoms (Article)

Smid G.E. , Lensvelt-Mulders G.J.L.M. , Knipscheer J.W. , Gersons B.P.R. , Kleber R.J.
  • a Foundation Centrum '45, Nienoord 5, 1112 XE Diemen, United States
  • b Department of Theory of Sciences and Methodology, University for Humanistics, Netherlands
  • c Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht University and Foundation Centrum '45, Netherlands
  • d Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam and Foundation Centrum '45, Netherlands
  • e Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht University and Foundation Centrum '45, Netherlands

Abstract

Following resettlement in Western countries, unaccompanied refugee minors (URM) are at risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is unclear to what extent PTSD in this group may become manifest at later stages following resettlement and which factors are associated with late onset. We examined data from URM collected 1 (T1) and 2 years (T2) following resettlement for differences between groups with no PTSD, PTSD at T1, and late-onset PTSD (at T2 only) using multinomial regression and path analysis. Of the children and adolescents (ages 12-18) completing both assessments (N=554), 223 (40%) met criteria for PTSD at T1, and 88 (16%) endorsed late-onset PTSD. Late-onset PTSD was associated with traumatic event exposure, older age, and low education. In the late-onset PTSD group, the predictive effects of traumatic event exposure on symptom severity at T2 were fully mediated by depression and anxiety symptoms at T1. These results suggest that late-onset PTSD is a clinically relevant problem among URM that may be heralded by early depression and anxiety symptoms. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

anxiety depression refugee psychological aspect predictive value human Life Change Events Refugees life event Minors Humans Adolescent male female juvenile Article Predictive Value of Tests posttraumatic stress disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-80052678036&doi=10.1080%2f15374416.2011.597083&partnerID=40&md5=7e47e455ffe94f5c7bd48c561f7a3f94
DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2011.597083
ISSN: 15374416
Cited by: 33
Original Language: English