Objective: Becoming a refugee is a potent risk factor for indicators of psychological distress such as depression, generalized stress, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), though research into this vulnerable population has been scant, with even less work focusing on interventions. The current study applied principles from self-determination theory (SDT; Ryan and Deci, 2000) to develop and test an intervention aimed at increasing need-satisfying experiences in refugees of Syrian civil unrest. Method: Forty-one refugees who fled Syria during the past 24 months and resettled in Jordan participated in the study and were randomly assigned to receive the intervention or a neutral comparison. Results: The 1-week-long intervention alleviated some of the need frustration likely associated with refugee status, a major aim of the intervention, and also lowered refugees' self-reported symptoms of depression and generalized stress as compared to the comparison condition, though it did not reduce symptoms of PTSD. Conclusions: Discussion focuses on how these findings speak to the universal importance of need satisfaction for mental health, and how need-satisfying experiences can help buffer against the profound stress of being a refugee. Avenues for longer-term or more intensive interventions that may target more severe outcomes of refugee experiences, such as PTSD symptoms, are also discussed. © 2016 American Psychological Association.

Depression Mental health Refugees self-determination theory basic psychological need satisfaction

depression refugee Jordan Syrian Arab Republic self determination theory motivation human Refugees middle aged Self Report Stress, Psychological mental stress controlled study randomized controlled trial Aged Humans psychology Adolescent male female State Trait Anxiety Inventory clinical article Article personal autonomy Syrian adult theory posttraumatic stress disorder Syria distress syndrome Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic frustration