“We came to this country for the future of our children. We have no future”: Acculturative stress among Iraqi refugees in the United States

Yako, Rihab Mousa; Biswas, Bipasha

doi:10.1016/j.ijintrel.2013.08.003

Cited by 61 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Why other resource utilization declined, however, is not known. For example, did subsidized housing utilization decline because the refugees no longer needed help, or because they felt unsafe in the housing environments funded by resettlement agencies [3]?…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Iraqi refugees arrive in the U.S. after being displaced from a war-torn country that has consistently been rated as one of the worst offenders for human security and safety worldwide [2], and often flee their homes with few personal belongings and few monetary and social resources [3]. …”

Section: Determinants Of Resource Needs and Utilization Among Refugeementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous cross-sectional research has found that refugees report a high need for physical and mental health care [4–8], financial support [5,7], translation/language assistance [6,8], and aid in securing safe housing [3]. Throughout this article we refer to these as institutional resources .…”

Section: Determinants Of Resource Needs and Utilization Among Refugeementioning

confidence: 99%

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Determinants of resource needs and utilization among refugees over time

Wright

Aldhalimi

Lumley

et al. 2015

Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol

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Purpose This study examined refugees’ resource needs and utilization over time, investigated the relationships between pre-displacement/socio-demographic variables and resource needs and utilization, and explored the role of resource needs and utilization on psychiatric symptom trajectories. Methods Iraqi refugees to the United States (N=298) were assessed upon arrival and at 1-year intervals for two years for socio-demographic variables and pre-displacement trauma experiences, their need for and utilization of 14 different resources, and PTSD and depressive symptoms. Results Although refugees reported reduction of some needs over time (e.g., need for cash assistance declined from 99% to 71%), other needs remained high (e.g., 99% of refugees reported a need for health care at the 2-year interview). Generally, the lowest needs were reported after 2 years, and the highest utilization occurred during the first year post-arrival. Pre-displacement trauma exposure predicted high health care needs but not high health care utilization. Both high need for and use of health care predicted increasing PTSD and depressive symptoms. Specifically, increased use of psychological care across the three measurement waves predicted more PTSD and depression symptoms at the 2-year interview. Conclusions Differences emerged between need for and actual use of resources, especially for highly trauma-exposed refugees. Resettlement agencies and assistance programs should consider the complex relationships between resource needs, resource utilization, and mental health during the early resettlement period.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Determinants Of Resource Needs and Utilization Among Refugeementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Determinants Of Resource Needs and Utilization Among Refugeementioning

confidence: 99%

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Determinants of resource needs and utilization among refugees over time

Wright

Aldhalimi

Lumley

et al. 2015

Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol

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“…But what if refugees encounter additional trauma after arriving in the host country? Such post‐displacement trauma after successfully escaping pre‐displacement trauma could create emotional and psychological barriers to employment (e.g., demoralization; Parson, ), legal barriers to employment (e.g., police harassment and random arrests; Grabska, ), or pragmatic barriers to employment (e.g., insecure housing and therefore no permanent address; Yako & Biswas, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unemployment in Iraqi refugees: The interaction of pre and post‐displacement trauma

Wright

Dhalimi

Lumley

et al. 2016

Scandinavian J Psychology

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Previous refugee research has been unable to link pre-displacement trauma with unemployment in the host country. The current study assessed the role of pre-displacement trauma, post-displacement trauma, and the interaction of both trauma types to prospectively examine unemployment in a random sample of newly-arrived Iraqi refugees. Participants (N=286) were interviewed three times over the first two years post-arrival. Refugees were assessed for pre-displacement trauma exposure, post-displacement trauma exposure, a history of unemployment in the country of origin and host country, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Analyses found that neither pre-displacement nor post-displacement trauma independently predicted unemployment 2 years post-arrival; however, the interaction of pre and post-displacement trauma predicted 2-year unemployment. Refugees with high levels of both pre and post-displacement trauma had a 91% predicted probability of unemployment, whereas those with low levels of both traumas had a 20% predicted probability. This interaction remained significant after controlling for sociodemographic variables and mental health upon arrival to the U.S. Resettlement agencies and community organizations should consider the interactive effect of encountering additional trauma after escaping the hardships of the refugee's country of origin.

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“…While there are potentially overlapping issues of cultural differences or discrimination, for instance, there are profoundly unique concerns related to migration adjustment and acculturative distress that bear on experiences in out-of-school time. Refugee families in particular are likely to have experienced traumatic stress prior to arrival as a result of political violence or exposure to war, and this stress exacerbates parent-child conflict, difficulty with communication, and struggles to have children maintain religious and cultural practices in the context of mainstream U.S. settings (Betancourt, Abdi, Ito, Lilienthal, Agalab, & Ellis, 2015;Yako, & Biswas, 2014). Even well-meaning program staff may send subtle messages negative messages about perceived deficits of immigrant families (e.g., stereotypes about lack of value of education, absent fathers, and culture of poverty) that create barriers to parental involvement and student engagement (Jimenez-Castellanos, & Gonzalez, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Practices and Approaches of Out-of-School Time Programs Serving Immigrant and Refugee Youth

Hall

Porche

Grossman

et al. 2015

JYD

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Opportunity to participate in an out-of-school time program may be a meaningful support mechanism towards school success and healthy development for immigrant and refugee children. This study extends existing research on best practices by examining the on-the-ground experiences of supporting immigrant and refugee youth in out-of-school time programs. Findings from semi-structured interviews with program directors in 17 Massachusetts and New Hampshire programs suggest a number of program strategies that were responsive to the needs of immigrant and refugee students, including support for the use of native language as well as English, knowing about and celebrating the heritage of the students' homeland, including on staff or in leadership individuals with shared immigrant background, and giving consideration to the academic priorities of parents. The development of such intentional approaches to working with immigrant and refugee youth during the out-of-school time hours will encourage enrollment of, and enhance effectiveness with, this vulnerable population.

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“We came to this country for the future of our children. We have no future”: Acculturative stress among Iraqi refugees in the United States

Cited by 61 publications

References 19 publications

Determinants of resource needs and utilization among refugees over time

Determinants of resource needs and utilization among refugees over time

Unemployment in Iraqi refugees: The interaction of pre and post‐displacement trauma

Practices and Approaches of Out-of-School Time Programs Serving Immigrant and Refugee Youth

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