Predictors of depression among Syrian refugee women: A socio-culturally relevant analysis

Abstract

Objectives: Syrian refugee women have faced myriad adversities as they have navigated the realities of war, increasing the risk for mental health concerns such as depressive symptomatology. This study explores the nuances of relevant sociocultural factors that can contribute to depressive symptomatology among widowed Syrian refugee women who live in an institutionalized care setting. We explored the impact of past trauma exposure, perceived independence, and a desire to leave the current place of displacement and the interplay between them. Methods: The PCRF Traumatic Events Questionnaire and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were administered to 57 Syrian refugee women in Lebanon ( Mage = 37; M number of children = 3) to measure levels of trauma exposure and depressive symptoms, respectively. Perceived independence and a desire to leave their current place of residence were measured using 1-item measures. Results: Using hierarchical regression models, past trauma exposure ( B = 1.51, p = .002) and perceived independence ( B = 0.33, p = .04) significantly predicted depressive symptoms. A desire to travel ( B = 0.84, p = .07) marginally predicted depressive symptoms. Past trauma exposure attenuated the impact of perceived independence on depressive symptoms such that at lower levels of past trauma exposure, higher perceptions of independence predicted higher depression ( simple slope = 0.29, t = 2.13, p = .05), while at higher levels of past trauma higher perceptions of independence predicted lower depressive symptoms ( simple slope = -0.16, t = -2.21, p = .04). Trauma exposure did not moderate the impact of a desire to leave on depression, but age did. Conclusion: These findings suggest that sociocultural factors may influence women’s experiences with depressive symptoms differently, and this heterogeneity must be accounted for when treatment programs are proposed. Further, Syrian refugee women who have lost primary family members may pose different profiles of depressive symptoms than other groups of women.

Psychological well-being of Ukrainian students three months after the emerge of full-scale war

“…Głównymi predyktorami objawów depresyjnych wśród studentów objętych naszym badaniem były: dobrostan psychiczny przed wojną, wiek i rok studiów, doświadczenie traumy wojennej, płeć, powrót do domu po relokacji, wielokrotne traumatyczne doświadczenia i trauma seksualna. Według wcześniejszych badań zespół stresu pourazowego i objawy depresyjne związane z konfliktem są powiązane z licznymi czynnikami: z czasem, jaki upłynął od konfliktu, narażeniem na wydarzenia wojenne [19], torturami i liczbą potencjalnie traumatycznych wydarzeń [53], przemocą seksualną [54], wcześniejszymi doświadczeniami traumatycznymi [55], płcią żeńską [20,21], wiekiem [19,56], statusem społeczno-ekonomicznym, zatrudnieniem, wykształceniem i wsparciem społecznym [57,58], niezależnością [59], doświadczeniem bycia ofiarą znęcania się emocjonalnego lub fizycznego w dzieciństwie (childhood maltreatment, por. definicja Światowej Organizacji Zdrowia, WHO), wcześniejszymi wynikami w nauce i zażywaniem narkotyków [60], stresem pomigracyjnym [61], stygmatyzacją związaną z leczeniem [62].…”

Predicting poor mental health amongst older Syrian refugees in Lebanon during the COVID-19 pandemic: a multi-wave longitudinal study

“…As well, none of these studies were developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. [11][12][13] Moreover, there have been calls to concurrently collect data on water security and food security, along with mental health outcomes, to understand the risk each poses to health. 14,15 In addition, to the best of our knowledge, there are no longitudinal studies assessing the evolution of poor mental health or developing predictive models among older Syrian refugees in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region during COVID-19.…”

“…4,10 In this context, prediction models have the ability to identify those at high risk of experiencing poor mental health, and informing humanitarian programming for this particularly vulnerable subpopulation. To date, previous prognostic models on Syrian refugees have been developed only among very specific subgroups such as widowed women, 11 those with diagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder, 12 or those who experienced ambiguous loss, 13 and are therefore not generalizable to older Syrian refugees. As well, none of these studies were developed during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”