International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume 14, Issue 1, 2017

Gendered sources of distress and resilience among afghan refugees in Northern California: A cross-sectional study (Article) (Open Access)

Stempel C.* , Sami N. , Koga P.M. , Alemi Q. , Smith V. , Shirazi A.
  • a Department of Sociology and Social Services, California State University, East Bay, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd., Hayward, CA 94542, United States
  • b Institute of Human Development, University of California, Berkeley, 1121 Tolman Hall #1690, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
  • c Department of Public Health Sciences, UCD School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Med Sci 1-C, Davis, CA 95616, United States
  • d Department of Social Work & Social Ecology, School of Behavioral Health, Loma Linda University, 1898 Business Center Drive, San Bernardino, CA 92408, United States
  • e Department of Health Sciences, California State University, East Bay, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd., Hayward, CA 94542, United States
  • f School of Public Health, Health Policy and Management, University of California Berkeley, 265 University, Hall, Berkeley, CA 94702, United States

Abstract

Recent studies have emphasized the influence of resettlement factors on the mental health of refugees resettling in developed countries. However, little research has addressed gender differences in the nature and influence of resettlement stressors and sources of resilience. We address this gap in knowledge by investigating how gender moderates and mediates the influence of several sources of distress and resilience among 259 Afghan refugees residing in Northern California (USA). Gender moderated the effects of four factors on levels of distress. Intimate and extended family ties have little correlation with men’s distress levels, but are strongly associated with lower distress for women. English ability is positively associated with lower distress for women, but not men. In terms of gender ideology, traditionally oriented women and egalitarian men have lower levels of distress. And experiencing greater dissonant acculturation increases distress for men, but not women. The influence of gender interaction terms is substantial and patterns may reflect difficulty adapting to a different gender order. Future studies of similar populations should investigate gender differences in sources of distress and resilience, and efforts to assist new arrivals might inform them of changes in gender roles they may experience, and facilitate opportunities to renegotiate gender roles. © 2016 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Author Keywords

Refugee mental health Afghan resettlement stressors Dissonant acculturation Gender and mental health Gender ideology

Index Keywords

ideology gender relations refugee mental health human epidemiology Refugees language ability middle aged sex difference Stress, Psychological mental stress coping behavior controlled study Aged language relocation Cross-Sectional Studies United States cross-sectional study Humans psychology California male Acculturation female cultural factor Resilience, Psychological Article Family Relations sex role psychological resilience major clinical study adult gender family relation Sex Factors distress syndrome Afghan
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85007415944&doi=10.3390%2fijerph14010025&partnerID=40&md5=813197596dc4a9de93abb6515b583740
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14010025
ISSN: 16617827
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English