Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied
Volume 131, Issue 5, 1997, Pages 463-470

Compounding of premigration trauma and postmigration stress in asylum seekers (Article)

Sinnerbrink I.* , Silove D. , Field A. , Steel Z. , Manicavasagar V.
  • a School of Psychiatry, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  • b School of Psychiatry, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  • c Asylum Seekers Center, Sydney, Australia
  • d South Western Sydney Area Health Service, Liverpool, Australia
  • e South Western Sydney Area Health Service, Liverpool, Australia

Abstract

Unauthorized immigrants arriving in Western countries increasingly are being subjected to stringent restrictions while their residency claims are assessed. The present study was an investigation of premigration exposure to organized violence and post-migration stressors in 40 individuals seeking asylum who were attending a community welfare center in Sydney, Australia. Almost 80% reported exposure to premigration trauma such as witnessing murders, having their lives threatened, being separated from family members, and brainwashing; 25% had been tortured. Asylum seekers reported a marked decline in socioeconomic status. Common ongoing sources of severe stress included fears of being repatriated, barriers to work and social services, separation from family, and issues related to the process of pursuing refugee claims. More than one third had problems obtaining health services in Australia—the same number who reported similar difficulties in their home countries. Although based on a selective and culturally heterogeneous sample, the results suggest that salient aspects of the asylum-seeking process may compound the stressors suffered by an already traumatized group. © 1997 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

refugee Australia psychological aspect human Refugees middle aged violence Stress, Psychological mental stress Humans male Acculturation female cultural factor social welfare New South Wales Article adult migration posttraumatic stress disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Emigration and Immigration Torture
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0346614652&doi=10.1080%2f00223989709603533&partnerID=40&md5=2d84b6daf6880a58eec1fbe1695eb7ae
DOI: 10.1080/00223989709603533
ISSN: 00223980
Cited by: 98
Original Language: English