Identity
Volume 17, Issue 3, 2017, Pages 176-190

A Threatened Identity: The Mental Health Status of Syrian Refugees in Egypt and Its Etiology (Article)

Kira I.A.* , Shuwiekh H. , Rice K. , Al Ibraheem B. , Aljakoub J.
  • a Center for Cumulative Trauma Studies, Stone Mountain, GA, United States, The Center for Stress, Trauma, and Resiliency, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • b The Center for Stress, Trauma, and Resiliency, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
  • c The Center for Stress, Trauma, and Resiliency, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • d Kuwait Ministry of Health, Kuwait City, Kuwait
  • e Sabah Hospital, Kuwait City, Kuwait

Abstract

This study utilized the development-based trauma framework on identity traumas to study the cumulative effects of trauma on the identities of Syrian refugees. Participants included 196 Syrian refugees residing in Cairo, Egypt (Mean age = 35.99, SD = 11.05). The rate of post-traumatic stress disorder was 33.5%, and the rate of depression was around 30%; the level of comorbidity was high with a high rate of suicidal plans or attempts (13.7%). Analyses indicated that existential annihilation anxieties, moderated by identity salience, mediated the effects of cumulative trauma on mental health. The results confirmed the utility and validity of the identity trauma model and provided evidence of the dire mental health needs of Syrian refugees. © 2017 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Author Keywords

Development-based trauma framework (DBTF) existential annihilation anxiety identity salience Syrian refugees Egypt

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85027032042&doi=10.1080%2f15283488.2017.1340163&partnerID=40&md5=597e8e89cdea4e7a94d2dc96085d5a3b
DOI: 10.1080/15283488.2017.1340163
ISSN: 15283488
Cited by: 5
Original Language: English