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“I Go up to the Edge of the Valley, and I Talk to God”: Using Mixed Methods to Understand the Relationship between Gender-Based Violence and Mental Health among Lebanese and Syrian Refugee Women Engaged in Psychosocial Programming

Author

Listed:
  • Rassil Barada

    (Abaad Resource Center for Gender Equality, Beirut 21133, Lebanon
    Gillings School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Alina Potts

    (The Global Women’s Institute, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA)

  • Angela Bourassa

    (The Global Women’s Institute, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA)

  • Manuel Contreras-Urbina

    (World Bank, Washington, DC 20433, USA)

  • Krystel Nasr

    (Abaad Resource Center for Gender Equality, Beirut 21133, Lebanon)

Abstract

Lebanon’s intersecting economic and political crises exacerbate complex public health issues among both host and refugee populations. This mixed-methods study by a Lebanese service provider, in partnership with an international research institute, seeks to better understand how experiences of gender-based violence (GBV) and mental health intersect in the lives of Syrian and Lebanese women, and how to better meet these needs. It employs a randomized cross-sectional survey of 969 Abaad service users and focus groups with community members and service providers. There were significant associations between GBV and ill mental health; notably, respondents reporting transactional sex had 4 times the likelihood of severe distress (aOR 4.2; 95% CI 1.2–14.8; p ≤ 0.05). Focus groups emphasized less-visible forms of violence, such as emotional violence, and the importance of environmental factors in one’s ability to cope, noting “it always came back to the economy”. Recommendations include providing a more holistic and coordinated approach between GBV, mental health, livelihood, and basic assistance sectors; and sensitive, accessible, and higher-quality mental health services informed by GBV response actors’ experience putting in place survivor-centered programming and made available to both host and refugee community members.

Suggested Citation

  • Rassil Barada & Alina Potts & Angela Bourassa & Manuel Contreras-Urbina & Krystel Nasr, 2021. "“I Go up to the Edge of the Valley, and I Talk to God”: Using Mixed Methods to Understand the Relationship between Gender-Based Violence and Mental Health among Lebanese and Syrian Refugee Women Engag," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-16, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:9:p:4500-:d:542236
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    Cited by:

    1. Ilana Seff & Andrea Koris & Monica Giuffrida & Reine Ibala & Kristine Anderson & Hana Shalouf & Julianne Deitch & Lindsay Stark, 2022. "Exploring the Impact of a Family-Focused, Gender-Transformative Intervention on Adolescent Girls’ Well-Being in a Humanitarian Context," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-17, November.
    2. Michael G. Wessells & Kathleen Kostelny, 2022. "The Psychosocial Impacts of Intimate Partner Violence against Women in LMIC Contexts: Toward a Holistic Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-20, November.
    3. Leah Emily James & Courtney Welton-Mitchell & Saja Michael & Fajar Santoadi & Sharifah Shakirah & Hasnah Hussin & Mohammed Anwar & Lama Kilzar & Alexander James, 2021. "Development and Testing of a Community-Based Intervention to Address Intimate Partner Violence among Rohingya and Syrian Refugees: A Social Norms-Based Mental Health-Integrated Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-25, November.
    4. Lindsay Stark & Ilana Seff & Massy Mutumba & Emma Fulu, 2023. "Intimate Partner Violence and Mental Health: Deepening Our Understanding of Associations, Pathways, and Prevention in Low- and Middle-Income Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-4, January.

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