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The Relationship Between Trauma, Post-Migration Problems and the Psychological Well-Being of Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Author

Listed:
  • Kenneth Carswell

    (The Traumatic Stress Clinic, Camden and Islington Foundation Trust, 73 Charlotte Street, London W1T 4PL, UK, ken.carswell@uclmail.net)

  • Pennie Blackburn

    (The Traumatic Stress Clinic, Camden & Islington Foundation Trust, 73 Charlotte Street, London W1T 4PL, UK)

  • Chris Barker

    (Clinical Department, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK)

Abstract

Background: There is growing evidence of the impact of post-migration factors on the mental health of refugees. To date, few UK studies have been conducted. Aims: The study investigated the relationship between trauma, post-migration problems, social support and the mental health of refugees and asylum seekers. Methods: Refugees and asylum seekers ( n = 47) were recruited mainly from clinical settings. Self-report measures of post-migration problems, mental health problems and social support were completed in an interview. Results: Bivariate associations were identified between increased symptoms and number of traumas, adaptation difficulties, loss of culture and support and confidant support. In multivariate analyses post-migration problems were significantly associated with post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and emotional distress. There was no significant association of symptoms and number of traumas or social support. Conclusions: The results suggest that clinical services should provide holistic interventions within a phased approach when working with refugees and asylum seekers. At a policy level, the results suggest the need for asylum policies that reduce post-migration problems and provide support for refugees and asylum seekers.

Suggested Citation

  • Kenneth Carswell & Pennie Blackburn & Chris Barker, 2011. "The Relationship Between Trauma, Post-Migration Problems and the Psychological Well-Being of Refugees and Asylum Seekers," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 57(2), pages 107-119, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:57:y:2011:i:2:p:107-119
    DOI: 10.1177/0020764009105699
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Wachter, Karin & Gulbas, Lauren E., 2018. "Social support under siege: An analysis of forced migration among women from the Democratic Republic of Congo," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 107-116.
    2. Michael Hollifield & Eric C. Toolson & Sasha Verbillis-Kolp & Beth Farmer & Junko Yamazaki & Tsegaba Woldehaimanot & Annette Holland, 2021. "Distress and Resilience in Resettled Refugees of War: Implications for Screening," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-15, January.
    3. Mathilde Roze & Maria Melchior & Cécile Vuillermoz & Dalila Rezzoug & Thierry Baubet & Stéphanie Vandentorren, 2020. "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Homeless Migrant Mothers of the Paris Region Shelters," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-13, July.
    4. Macarena Vallejo-Martín & Jesús M. Canto & Jesús E. San Martín García & Fabiola Perles Novas, 2020. "Prejudice and Feeling of Threat towards Syrian Refugees: The Moderating Effects of Precarious Employment and Perceived Low Outgroup Morality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-12, September.
    5. Mathilde Sengoelge & Øivind Solberg & Alexander Nissen & Fredrik Saboonchi, 2020. "Exploring Social and Financial Hardship, Mental Health Problems and the Role of Social Support in Asylum Seekers Using Structural Equation Modelling," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-14, September.
    6. 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.
    7. Georgios Schoretsanitis & Sarah Eisenhardt & Meret E. Ricklin & David S. Srivastava & Sebastian Walther & Aristomenis Exadaktylos, 2018. "Psychiatric Emergencies of Asylum Seekers; Descriptive Analysis and Comparison with Immigrants of Warranted Residence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-10, June.
    8. Atefeh Fathi & Usama El-Awad & Tilman Reinelt & Franz Petermann, 2018. "A Brief Introduction to the Multidimensional Intercultural Training Acculturation Model (MITA) for Middle Eastern Adolescent Refugees," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-14, July.
    9. Maria Caterina Gargano & Dean Ajduković & Maša Vukčević Marković, 2022. "Mental Health in the Transit Context: Evidence from 10 Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-18, March.
    10. Tomkow, Louise, 2020. "Health and hostile hospitality: Understanding asylum applicants’ narratives of life and health in the UK," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    11. Chinedu Obi & Wannes Slosse & Fabio Bartolini & Joost Dessein & Marijke D’Haese, 2023. "Understanding Integration Experience and Wellbeing of Economic-Asylum Seekers in Italy: the Case of Nigerian Immigrants," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 189-210, March.
    12. Laura Herroudi & Iris Knuppel & Adélaïde Blavier, 2024. "Post-migration journey: Asylum, trauma and resilience, different trajectories – A comparison of the mental health and post-migration living difficulties of documented and undocumented migrants in Be," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 70(1), pages 201-208, February.
    13. Georgios Schoretsanitis & Dinesh Bhugra & Sarah Eisenhardt & Meret E. Ricklin & David S. Srivastava & Aristomenis Exadaktylos & Sebastian Walther, 2018. "Upon Rejection: Psychiatric Emergencies of Failed Asylum Seekers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-9, July.
    14. Godfred O. Boateng & Karin Wachter & Roseanne C. Schuster & Tanya L. Burgess & Mary Bunn, 2024. "A Scoping Review of Instruments Used in Measuring Social Support among Refugees in Resettlement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(6), pages 1-25, June.
    15. Patricio V. Marquez, 2016. "Mental Health Among Displaced People and Refugees," World Bank Publications - Reports 25854, The World Bank Group.
    16. Amalia De Leo & Giulia D’Adamo & Carlotta Morozzi & Caterina Gozzoli, 2023. "Taking Care of Forced Migrants Together: Strengths and Weaknesses of Interorganizational Work from the Perspective of Social Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-18, January.
    17. Pavlina Psychouli & Ioulia Louta & Constantina Christodoulou, 2023. "Development of the Refugees and Asylum Seekers Occupational Satisfaction (RASOS) Assessment Tool," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(19), pages 1-17, September.
    18. David Whitsett & Martin F Sherman, 2017. "Do resettlement variables predict psychiatric treatment outcomes in a sample of asylum-seeking survivors of torture?," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 63(8), pages 674-685, December.
    19. Bulent Akkoyun & Saime Uyar, 2020. "Analysis of the effect of organizational structure and culture on refugee problem and pandemic crisis management with artistic expression," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 9(1), pages 596-610, July.
    20. Julia Manek & Andrea Galán-Santamarina & Pau Pérez-Sales, 2022. "Torturing environments and multiple injuries in Mexican migration detention," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-16, December.
    21. Cerdeña, Jessica P. & Rivera, Luisa M. & Spak, Judy M., 2021. "Intergenerational trauma in Latinxs: A scoping review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    22. Nima Sheth & Sheetal Patel & Seini O’Connor & Mary Ann Dutton, 2022. "Working Towards Collaborative, Migrant-Centered, and Trauma-Informed Care: a Mental Health Needs Assessment for Forced Migrant Communities in the DC Metropolitan Area of the United States," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 1711-1737, December.
    23. Elizabeth A. Newnham & April Pearman & Stephanie Olinga-Shannon & Angela Nickerson, 2019. "The mental health effects of visa insecurity for refugees and people seeking asylum: a latent class analysis," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 64(5), pages 763-772, June.
    24. Ewa Johnsson & Krystyna Zolkowska & Thomas F McNeil, 2015. "Prediction of adaptation difficulties by country of origin, cumulate psychosocial stressors and attitude toward integrating: A Swedish study of first-generation immigrants from Somalia, Vietnam and Ch," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 61(2), pages 174-182, March.
    25. O'Toole Thommessen, Sara Amalie & Corcoran, Paula & Todd, Brenda K., 2017. "Voices rarely heard: Personal construct assessments of Sub-Saharan unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee youth in England," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 293-300.

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