Polytraumatization in young male refugees from the Middle East and its association with internalizing and externalizing symptoms.
Anxiety
Depression
Externalizing symptoms
Internalizing symptoms
Polytraumatization
Potentially traumatic events
Refugee adolescents
Journal
Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health
ISSN: 1753-2000
Titre abrégé: Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101297974
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
17 Dec 2021
17 Dec 2021
Historique:
received:
06
09
2021
accepted:
30
11
2021
entrez:
18
12
2021
pubmed:
19
12
2021
medline:
19
12
2021
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Young Middle Eastern male refugees are currently among the most vulnerable groups in Europe. Most of them have experienced potentially traumatic events (PTEs) such as rape, torture, or violent assaults. Compared to their peers, young refugees suffer more from internalizing and externalizing symptoms, especially when unaccompanied. Little is known about the cumulative impact of experiencing different types of PTEs on mental health outcomes (polytraumatization) of young male refugees from the Middle East. We investigated (1) whether there is a dose-response relationship between multiple PTE types experienced and mental health outcomes, (2) whether individual types of PTEs are particularly important, and (3) to what extent these are differentially associated with mental health outcomes among unaccompanied or accompanied peers. In total, 151 young Middle Eastern male refugees in Germany (M Hierarchical regression analyses revealed, while controlling for age, duration of stay, unaccompanied status, and post-migration stress, (1) a dose-effect between PTE types on both internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Moreover, (2) regarding internalizing symptoms, violent family separation and experiencing life-threatening medical problems were particularly crucial. The latter was driven by unaccompanied refugees, who also reported higher levels of substance use. The results extend findings from the literature and suggest that not only may greater polytraumatization be related to greater depression among refugees, but also to a range of other mental health outcomes from the internalizing and externalizing symptom domains. Furthermore, the results highlight the mental health risks that unaccompanied and accompanied refugee adolescents face after exposure to PTEs, and provide information for practitioners as well as researchers about event types that may be particularly relevant.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Young Middle Eastern male refugees are currently among the most vulnerable groups in Europe. Most of them have experienced potentially traumatic events (PTEs) such as rape, torture, or violent assaults. Compared to their peers, young refugees suffer more from internalizing and externalizing symptoms, especially when unaccompanied. Little is known about the cumulative impact of experiencing different types of PTEs on mental health outcomes (polytraumatization) of young male refugees from the Middle East. We investigated (1) whether there is a dose-response relationship between multiple PTE types experienced and mental health outcomes, (2) whether individual types of PTEs are particularly important, and (3) to what extent these are differentially associated with mental health outcomes among unaccompanied or accompanied peers.
METHODS
METHODS
In total, 151 young Middle Eastern male refugees in Germany (M
RESULTS
RESULTS
Hierarchical regression analyses revealed, while controlling for age, duration of stay, unaccompanied status, and post-migration stress, (1) a dose-effect between PTE types on both internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Moreover, (2) regarding internalizing symptoms, violent family separation and experiencing life-threatening medical problems were particularly crucial. The latter was driven by unaccompanied refugees, who also reported higher levels of substance use.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
The results extend findings from the literature and suggest that not only may greater polytraumatization be related to greater depression among refugees, but also to a range of other mental health outcomes from the internalizing and externalizing symptom domains. Furthermore, the results highlight the mental health risks that unaccompanied and accompanied refugee adolescents face after exposure to PTEs, and provide information for practitioners as well as researchers about event types that may be particularly relevant.
Identifiants
pubmed: 34920749
doi: 10.1186/s13034-021-00428-9
pii: 10.1186/s13034-021-00428-9
pmc: PMC8684214
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
75Subventions
Organisme : Porticus Foundation (Europe)
ID : #GR-071645
Organisme : Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
ID : #GR-01GL1749A
Informations de copyright
© 2021. The Author(s).
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