A Phenomenological Study of Family Experiences of Resettled Iraqi Refugees

Gangamma, Rashmi

doi:10.1111/jmft.12251

Cited by 34 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…In an investigation of Iraqi refugees resettled in the US, Gangamma et al also described the refugees' worries about relatives and personal safety. They found this psychological burden to be omnipresent, even though the refugees themselves did currently not face any threat ( 44 ). Other studies confirmed the significant association between family separation and serious mental health problems such as subsyndromal depression, anxiety, or PTSD ( 45 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological Burden in Female, Iraqi Refugees Who Suffered Extreme Violence by the “Islamic State”: The Perspective of Care Providers

Sount¹,

Denkinger²,

Windthorst³

et al. 2018

Front. Psychiatry

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Introduction: A large number of refugees suffer from mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In the context of a special quota project, 1100 Yazidi women from Northern Iraq who had suffered extreme violence by the so-called Islamic State (IS) were brought to Germany to receive specialized treatment. This study aims to investigate the psychological burden and trauma-related symptoms of these female IS-victims from the perspectives of their care providers.Material and methods: Care providers with various professional backgrounds (N = 96) were asked to complete a self-developed questionnaire on a Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (very low) to 7 (very high) analyzing the psychological burden and trauma-related symptoms of the IS-traumatized women since their arrival in Germany. We controlled for potential confounders, namely the care providers' personal experiences of trauma and flight, by using chi-square tests.Results: The mean psychological burden for the whole period in Germany as perceived by care providers was M = 5.51 (SD = 0.94). As the main factors of distress the care providers reported: worries about family members in Iraq (M = 6.69; SD = 0.69), worries about relatives' possibilities to be granted asylum in Germany (M = 6.62; SD = 0.68), and uncertainties regarding their future (M = 5.89; SD = 1.02). The most prominent trauma-related psychological symptoms were nightmares (M = 6.43; SD = 0.54). The care providers reported that somatic complaints have been present among the refugees in the following manifestation: pain (M = 6.24; SD = 1.08), gastrointestinal complaints (M = 4.62; SD = 1.62), and dizziness (M = 4.40; SD = 1.59). The care providers' personal experiences of trauma and flight had no significant influence on their response behavior.Discussion: Care providers working with IS-traumatized female refugees evaluate the psychological burden and trauma-related somatic and psychological symptom loads of their clients as very high. The results of this study provide important information about the perceptions of care providers working in a refugee-services context and may provide insights for the progression of specialized treatment programs and interventions for highly traumatized refugees and culture-sensitive training programs for their care providers.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological Burden in Female, Iraqi Refugees Who Suffered Extreme Violence by the “Islamic State”: The Perspective of Care Providers

Sount¹,

Denkinger²,

Windthorst³

et al. 2018

Front. Psychiatry

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“…The qualitative analysis of the psychological burdens and symptoms from the care providers’ perspective is in line with the quantitative survey results showing that in the care providers’ view, worries about the family, as well as nightmares, insomnia and depression are the highest stressors for the IS-traumatized women [ 37 ]. The fact that many refugees suffer from sorrow or even from a prolonged grief disorder (PGD) [ 45 ] and worries about their relatives [ 46 ] can be understood based on ongoing conflicts in many home countries, and in the specific case of the Yazidis, ongoing violence against family and community members since many are still missing or in IS captivity [ 47 ]. With a focus on the worries about the family, a recent study on Iraqi refugees shows that these emotional stressors are a significant risk factor for PTSD [ 48 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Care providers’ views on burden of psychosomatic symptoms of IS-traumatized female refugees participating in a Humanitarian Admission Program in Germany: A qualitative analysis

Rometsch¹,

Denkinger²,

Engelhardt³

et al. 2020

PLoS ONE

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Background Traumatized refugees often suffer from diverse psychosomatic symptoms. Female Yazidi refugees from Northern Iraq who survived attacks of the so-called "Islamic State" were brought to Germany to receive special medical and psychotherapeutic treatment in a unique worldwide humanitarian admission program (HAP). Here, we report on their psychosomatic symptoms and helpful strategies from the perspective of care providers. Methods Care providers (N = 84) in this HAP were interviewed in an individual setting as well as in focus groups to gather information about the HAP beneficiaries' psychosomatic symptoms. Data analysis followed Qualitative Content Analysis by Mayring. Results The care providers reported five main psychological burdens of the Yazidis: 1) insecurity regarding loss, 2) worries about family members, 3) ambivalence about staying in Germany or returning to Iraq, 4) life between two worlds and 5) re-actualization of the traumatic experiences. The predominant psychological symptoms the care providers noticed were fear, depressive symptoms, feelings of guilt, and sleep and eating disorders. Regarding somatic symptoms, the care providers mainly received complaints about pain in the head, back, chest and stomach. Helpful strategies for providing adequate health care were care providers' cooperating with physicians, precise documentation of beneficiaries' symptoms, and additional support in directing the beneficiaries through the health care system. Regarding psychotherapy, interpreters help to overcome language barriers, onsite psychotherapy,

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“…For those displaced due to the period of war between the U.S. and Saddam Hussein's regime, their experience would not have included refugee camps and instead would have meant living in other urban areas in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, prior to Syria's internal conflicts, which began in 2011 (Gangamma, 2018, p. 325). It is important to note the significance of resettling in the country that "led the war against Iraq" amidst "a current climate of religious and ethnic hostilities" that are different from what has been faced by other waves of Iraqi refugees (Gangamma, 2018;Campbell, 2016).…”

Section: Iraqi Context For Refugee Experiencementioning

confidence: 99%

From a "Limited Space" to a Much Wider Future

Luck

Santamaria

2020

IJIDI

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This article analyzes the diverse migratory experiences that inform the narratives of refugee women from Nepal, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Iraq while these women navigate higher education as refugees in a small city in the U.S. It is important to contextualize that these women’s experiences take place in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, especially given Lancaster’s unique relationship to refugees. While refugee numbers have lagged more recently due to restrictions placed by the Trump administration, the longstanding commitment on the part of organizations like Church World Services and Bethany Christian Services to provide support to refugees signifies, to a certain degree, that Lancaster is different than the rest of the U.S. when it comes to welcoming refugees (Lancaster Online Staff Writer, 2019). To analyze our informants’ migratory experiences which resulted in their pursuit of higher education in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the article explores informant participation in a wide range of meaning-making practices. In doing so, the article analyzes our informants’ varying levels of struggle with imposed narratives. These imposed narratives have to do with refugees as they resettle in the U.S. The perception of refugees as victimized, impoverished, and destitute informs some of these refugee women’s sense of being pitied in their new social structure. Grappling with these perceptions also challenges the informants’ ability to construct their own narratives. The powerful yet nuanced influence of imagery on social discourses is pivotal in terms of shaping the narratives of refugees. In turn, this imposed imagery and imposed narratives render authentic narratives all the more necessary.

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A Phenomenological Study of Family Experiences of Resettled Iraqi Refugees

Cited by 34 publications

References 48 publications

Psychological Burden in Female, Iraqi Refugees Who Suffered Extreme Violence by the “Islamic State”: The Perspective of Care Providers

Psychological Burden in Female, Iraqi Refugees Who Suffered Extreme Violence by the “Islamic State”: The Perspective of Care Providers

Care providers’ views on burden of psychosomatic symptoms of IS-traumatized female refugees participating in a Humanitarian Admission Program in Germany: A qualitative analysis

From a "Limited Space" to a Much Wider Future

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