Polytraumatization in young male refugees from the Middle East and its association with internalizing and externalizing symptoms

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

Franz Petermann¹  Atefeh Fathi²  Mira Vasileva³  Pia Schmees⁴  Heike Eschenbeck⁴  Johanna Braig⁴  Jana-Elisa Rueth⁵  Denise Kerkhoff⁵  Arnold Lohaus⁵  Hannah Nilles⁵  Usama EL-Awad⁶  Tilman Reinelt⁷ 

[1] Center for Clinical Psychology and Rehabilitation, University of Bremen, Grazer Str. 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany;Center for Psychosomatic Psychotherapeutic Rehabilitation, Luisenklinik, Paulinenstraße 21, 70178, Stuttgart, Germany;Child and Community Wellbeing Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie St, 3053, Carlton, VIC, Australia;Department of Educational Psychology and Health Psychology, University of Education Schwäbisch Gmünd, Oberbettringer Str. 200, 73525, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany;Faculty of Psychology and Sports Sciences, University of Bielefeld, P.O. Box 10 01 31, 33501, Bielefeld, Germany;Faculty of Psychology and Sports Sciences, University of Bielefeld, P.O. Box 10 01 31, 33501, Bielefeld, Germany;Center for Clinical Psychology and Rehabilitation, University of Bremen, Grazer Str. 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany;University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland;

关键词: Refugee adolescents;    Polytraumatization;    Internalizing symptoms;    Depression;    Anxiety;    Externalizing symptoms;    Potentially traumatic events;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13034-021-00428-9

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundYoung 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.MethodsIn total, 151 young Middle Eastern male refugees in Germany (Mage = 16.81 years, SDage = 2.01) answered questionnaires on PTEs, mental health, and post-migration stress.ResultsHierarchical 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.ConclusionsThe 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.

【 授权许可】

CC BY