Journal of Muslim Mental Health
Volume 5, Issue 1, 2010, Pages 59-81

The effects of perceived discrimination and backlash on Iraqi refugees' mental and physical health (Article)

Kira I.A. , Lewandowski L. , Templin T. , Ramaswamy V. , Ozkan B. , Mohanesh J.
  • a Center for Torture and Trauma Survivors and Center for Cumulative Trauma Studies, Decatur, GA, United States
  • b Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
  • c Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
  • d Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
  • e Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
  • f ACCESS Community Mental Health and Research Center, Dearborn, MI, United States

Abstract

The effects of discrimination and the post-9/11 backlash on Iraqi refugees have not yet been fully examined. The present study aimed to adapt a scale of the perceived backlash (BTS; a modified version of the Race Related Stressors Scale), and measure its relationships with Cumulative Trauma Dose (CTD), Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and health. The BTS was found to have high reliability; and construct, convergent, divergent, and predictive validities. The BTS predicted PTSD and poor health after controlling for the cumulative effects of other reported life traumas. The BTS correlated significantly with neurological, respiratory, digestive and blood disorders, and non-life-threatening illnesses. The results provided evidence for the validity of the trauma model of backlash and discrimination and its importance in the treatment of Iraqi refugees. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Author Keywords

Iraqi refugees Backlash trauma Arab Americans discrimination Racism

Index Keywords

rating scale validity refugee Iraqi mental health human psychologic assessment ethnic group priority journal health status predictive validity racism Adolescent male female reliability construct validity Article major clinical study adult posttraumatic stress disorder Blacklash Trauma Scale divergent validity convergent validity cumulative trauma disorder Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77951547429&doi=10.1080%2f15564901003622110&partnerID=40&md5=28acaa95ec6d6f5c1b6f5c8f7c8c99eb
DOI: 10.1080/15564901003622110
ISSN: 15564908
Cited by: 30
Original Language: English