Acculturation and post-migration psychological symptoms among Iraqi refugees: A path analysis.

Abstract

Refugees frequently experience symptoms of posttraumatic stress and depression, which impede their acculturation in the new host country where they are resettling. There are few longitudinal studies investigating predictors of mental health and acculturation during the early postmigration period. We conducted a longitudinal study of 298 Iraqi refugees, assessing them upon arrival to the U.S. and 1 year after migration. Premigration trauma was associated with increased PTSD and depressive symptoms at baseline, and with decreased acculturation 1 year later. Resilience was associated with depressive symptoms at 1-year follow-up, but not with other resettlement outcomes (PTSD symptoms, English-language skills, or acculturation). PTSD and depressive symptoms at baseline predicted the same symptoms at 1-year follow-up, but not any other resettlement outcomes. The number of chronic diseases at baseline predicted worse PTSD and depressive symptoms, acculturation, and English language skills at 1-year follow up. Postmigratory exposure to daily stressors and less social support predicted worse 1-year outcomes. Results suggest that interventions that aim to improve mental health and promote acculturation among refugees should assess their history of trauma, chronic disorders, and psychological symptoms soon after migration, and promptly provide opportunities for social support. (PsycINFO Database Record

Depression and Pain in Asian and White Americans With Knee Osteoarthritis

“…These two factors could interact to increase pain and depression, as social support represents an important buffer against stress 35, 46 ; hence, the combination of acculturation stress and low social support may be particularly potent. In addition, the impact of acculturation stress and low social support may be magnified among Asian Americans with comorbid pain and depression; both are risk factors for pain and depression, 34, 37, 45, 59 which can, in turn, be mutually exacerbating. Moreover, cultural traditions that emphasize stoicism (e.g., Confucianism) may prevent Asian Americans from seeking adequate treatment for pain and depression; consequently, the severity of their pain and depressive symptoms may increase.…”

20201218

“…Other recent research on Iraqi refugees had also found elevated psychological distress (Hengst et al, 2018;Al-Smadi et al, 2017) but did not report potential differences by ethnic identification or religious affiliation. However, an earlier cohort of Iraqi refugees (10% Muslims) in southeast Michigan recruited after the Iraq War of 2003-2011 ended but prior to the arrival of ISIS found low levels of distress (LeMaster et al, 2018). The low levels of distress may have been due to low overall exposure to violence, as refugees who had been kidnapped were more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD (Wright et al, 2017), and specific traumas were associated with more distress (Arnetz et al, 2014).…”

Dysfunctional neuroplasticity in newly arrived Middle Eastern refugees in the U.S.: Association with environmental exposures and mental health symptoms

“…Participants were interviewed by a research assistant using a semi-structured survey in Arabic. The survey contained previously used and largely validated and published items or scales [8,11]. Demographics included age, gender, and country displaced from (Iraq or Syria).…”

“…War-associated trauma is a major risk factor for the development of mental health disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety [3][4][5][6][7]. Prospective studies of newly arrived refugees suggest that both pre-and post-displacement stressors contribute to adverse health trajectories [8][9][10][11]. Little is known, however, about the possible implications of environmental exposures for mental health and the role of biomarkers reflective of disease mechanisms in refugee populations.…”