International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume 16, Issue 22, 2019

Professional and volunteer refugee aid workers–depressive symptoms and their predictors, experienced traumatic events, ptsd, burdens, engagement motivators and support needs (Article) (Open Access)

Borho A. , Georgiadou E. , Grimm T. , Morawa E. , Silbermann A. , Nißlbeck W. , Erim Y.*
  • a Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, Erlangen, 91054, Germany
  • b Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, Erlangen, 91054, Germany, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Paracelsus Medical University Nürnberg, Prof.-Ernst-Nathan-Str. 1, Nürnberg, 90419, Germany
  • c Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, Erlangen, 91054, Germany
  • d Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, Erlangen, 91054, Germany
  • e Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, Erlangen, 91054, Germany
  • f Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, Erlangen, 91054, Germany
  • g Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, Erlangen, 91054, Germany

Abstract

In 2016, the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy of the University Hospital of Erlangen started conducting training for professional and voluntary aid workers. In total, 149 aid workers took part in the training courses, of which 135 completed the corresponding questionnaires. Engagement motivators, perceived distress in refugee work and training needs were examined. Moreover, depressive symptoms, the prevalence of traumatic experiences and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder were explored. Participants named helping others as the highest motivating factor for their work with refugees and communication problems as the main burden. Thirteen aid workers (10.1%) showed clinically relevant depressive symptoms. In total, 91.4% of refugee aid workers had experienced at least one traumatic event personally or as a witness but only three (3.6%) fulfilled the psychometric requirements of a PTSD diagnosis. These three participants all belonged to the professional aid workers (6.3%). More severe symptoms of depression were significantly associated with female gender (β = 0.315, p = 0.001), higher perceived burdens of refugee work (β = 0.294, p = 0.002), and a larger number of experienced traumatic events (β = 0.357, p < 0.001). According to our results, we recommend psychological trainings and regular screenings for psychological stress in order to counteract possible mental illnesses. © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Author Keywords

Engagement motivators Traumatic experiences Depression Germany Trainings Support needs Refugee aid workers Burdens PTSD

Index Keywords

communication barrier Germany depression training refugee motivation mental health human refugee aid worker job stress named groups by occupation communication behavior professionalism work engagement Aged voluntary worker psychology male female psychometry Article major clinical study adult posttraumatic stress disorder sex factor disease severity psychotrauma health care need
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85075215462&doi=10.3390%2fijerph16224542&partnerID=40&md5=5531e589af33a34193dbd5818d7d7e68
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16224542
ISSN: 16617827
Original Language: English