IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i3p1783-d742301.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Coping with Trauma and Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Exploring Intentions and Lay Beliefs about Appropriate Strategies among Asylum-Seeking Migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa in Germany

Author

Listed:
  • Freyja Grupp

    (Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Marburg, 35032 Marburg, Germany)

  • Marie Rose Moro

    (AP-HP, Hospital Cochin, University of Paris, Unité Inserm 1018, CESP, 75014 Paris, France)

  • Sara Skandrani

    (Hospital Cochin Paris, University of Paris Nanterre UR4430, 75014 Paris, France)

  • Ricarda Mewes

    (Outpatient Unit for Research, Teaching and Practice, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

Asylum-seekers are at high risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to frequent exposure to trauma. We investigated the coping intentions and lay beliefs about appropriate coping strategies among asylum-seekers from Sub-Saharan Africa in Germany. The study applied a methodological triangulation strategy with a vignette describing symptoms of PTSD. In a quantitative part, asylum-seekers (n = 119) that were predominantly from Eritrea (n = 41), Somalia (n = 36), and Cameroon (n = 25), and a native comparison sample (n = 120) responded to questionnaires assessing coping, traumatic events, and post-traumatic symptoms. In a qualitative part, asylum-seekers (n = 26) discussed coping strategies in focus groups. In the quantitative part, asylum-seekers displayed higher intentions for religious coping, emotional support, and denial compared to the native participants. Asylum-seekers with a higher symptom load expressed lower intentions to seek instrumental support. Asylum-seekers with a lower educational level and those with a higher symptom load expressed higher intentions for substance use. In the qualitative part, we identified three superordinate themes: (a) religion, (b) social support systems, and (c) cognitive strategies. Asylum-seekers expressed coping intentions that are associated with an adaptive response to trauma. Less-educated asylum-seekers with a higher symptom load might constitute a particularly vulnerable group.

Suggested Citation

  • Freyja Grupp & Marie Rose Moro & Sara Skandrani & Ricarda Mewes, 2022. "Coping with Trauma and Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Exploring Intentions and Lay Beliefs about Appropriate Strategies among Asylum-Seeking Migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1783-:d:742301
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/3/1783/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/3/1783/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Walter Renner & Ingrid Salem, 2009. "Post-Traumatic Stress in Asylum Seekers and Refugees From Chechnya, Afghanistan, and West Africa: Gender Differences in Symptomatology and Coping," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 55(2), pages 99-108, March.
    2. Karasz, Alison, 2005. "Cultural differences in conceptual models of depression," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(7), pages 1625-1635, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Madsen, Julian & Jobson, Laura & Slewa-Younan, Shameran & Li, Haoxiang & King, Kylie, 2024. "Mental health literacy among Arab men living in high-income Western countries: A systematic review and narrative synthesis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 346(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nandini D. P. Sarkar & Azucena Bardaji & Koen Peeters Grietens & Joske Bunders-Aelen & Florence Baingana & Bart Criel, 2018. "The Social Nature of Perceived Illness Representations of Perinatal Depression in Rural Uganda," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-16, June.
    2. Shinji Sakamoto & Itsuki Yamakawa & Masaki Muranaka, 2016. "A comparison of perceptions of ‘modern-type’ and melancholic depression in Japan," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 62(7), pages 627-634, November.
    3. Josefine Antoniades & Danielle Mazza & Bianca Brijnath, 2017. "Becoming a patient-illness representations of depression of Anglo-Australian and Sri Lankan patients through the lens of Leventhal’s illness representational model," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 63(7), pages 569-579, November.
    4. Fatmeh Ahmad Alzoubi & Ahmed Mohammad Al-Smadi & Yazeed Mohammad Gougazeh, 2019. "Coping Strategies Used by Syrian Refugees in Jordan," Clinical Nursing Research, , vol. 28(4), pages 396-421, May.
    5. Tine Van Bortel & Steven Martin & Sabrina Anjara & Laura B Nellums, 2019. "Perceived stressors and coping mechanisms of female migrant domestic workers in Singapore," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(3), pages 1-15, March.
    6. Kokanovic, Renata & Dowrick, Christopher & Butler, Ella & Herrman, Helen & Gunn, Jane, 2008. "Lay accounts of depression amongst Anglo-Australian residents and East African refugees," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(2), pages 454-466, January.
    7. Mayston, Rosie & Frissa, Souci & Tekola, Bethlehem & Hanlon, Charlotte & Prince, Martin & Fekadu, Abebaw, 2020. "Explanatory models of depression in sub-Saharan Africa: Synthesis of qualitative evidence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    8. Perjan Hashim Taha & Marit Sijbrandij, 2021. "Gender Differences in Traumatic Experiences, PTSD, and Relevant Symptoms among the Iraqi Internally Displaced Persons," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-11, September.
    9. Alison Karasz & Shabnam Anne & Jena Derakhshani Hamadani & Fahmida Tofail, 2021. "The ASHA (Hope) Project: Testing an Integrated Depression Treatment and Economic Strengthening Intervention in Rural Bangladesh: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-11, January.
    10. Alison Karasz, 2005. "Marriage, Depression and Illness," Psychology and Developing Societies, , vol. 17(2), pages 161-180, September.
    11. Aarethun, V. & Sandal, G.M. & Guribye, E. & Markova, V. & Bye, H.H., 2021. "Explanatory models and help-seeking for symptoms of PTSD and depression among Syrian refugees," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    12. Ville R. Hartonen & Pertti Väisänen & Liisa Karlsson & Sinikka Pöllänen, 2021. "‘Between heaven and hell’: Subjective well‐being of asylum seekers," International Journal of Social Welfare, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(1), pages 30-45, January.
    13. Ali Afsharian & Maureen Dollard & Emily Miller & Teresa Puvimanasinghe & Adrian Esterman & Helena De Anstiss & Tahereh Ziaian, 2021. "Refugees at Work: The Preventative Role of Psychosocial Safety Climate against Workplace Harassment, Discrimination and Psychological Distress," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-14, October.
    14. Lackey, Gerald F., 2008. ""Feeling blue" in Spanish: A qualitative inquiry of depression among Mexican immigrants," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(2), pages 228-237, July.
    15. Kaiser, Bonnie N. & Haroz, Emily E. & Kohrt, Brandon A. & Bolton, Paul A. & Bass, Judith K. & Hinton, Devon E., 2015. "“Thinking too much”: A systematic review of a common idiom of distress," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 170-183.
    16. Jieun E Kim & Stephen R Dager & Hyeonseok S Jeong & Jiyoung Ma & Shinwon Park & Jungyoon Kim & Yera Choi & Suji L Lee & Ilhyang Kang & Eunji Ha & Han Byul Cho & Sunho Lee & Eui-Jung Kim & Sujung Yoon , 2018. "Firefighters, posttraumatic stress disorder, and barriers to treatment: Results from a nationwide total population survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, January.
    17. Yuan Liang & Yan-Hong Gong & Xiao-Piao Wen & Chao-Ping Guan & Ming-Chuan Li & Ping Yin & Zhi-Qing Wang, 2012. "Social Determinants of Health and Depression: A Preliminary Investigation from Rural China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(1), pages 1-7, January.
    18. Robson Mandishekwa & Enard Mutenheri, 2021. "The economic activities among mining-induced displacees in Arda Transau, Zimbabwe," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 34(1), pages 51-70, April.
    19. van Deurzen, Ioana, 2017. "And justice for all: Examining corruption as a contextual source of mental illness," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 26-34.
    20. Susan Y Lin, 2013. "Beliefs about causes, symptoms, and stigma associated with severe mental illness among ‘highly acculturated’ Chinese-American patients," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 59(8), pages 745-751, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1783-:d:742301. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.