The familial influence of loss and trauma on refugee mental health: a multilevel path analysis

J Trauma Stress. 2011 Feb;24(1):25-33. doi: 10.1002/jts.20608. Epub 2011 Jan 25.

Abstract

Although the impact of human rights violations on the mental health of refugees has been well documented, little is known about these effects at a family level. In this study the authors examined the relationships among loss, trauma, and mental health at the individual and family levels in resettled Mandaean refugees (N = 315). Trauma, loss, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, complicated grief, and mental health-related quality of life were assessed. A multilevel path analysis revealed that loss and trauma significantly impacted on psychological outcomes at both the individual and family levels. Effect sizes ranged from .21 to .68 at the individual level, and .38 to .99 at the family level, highlighting the importance of the family when considering the psychological impact of refugee-related trauma.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Depression / ethnology
  • Family / ethnology
  • Family / psychology*
  • Female
  • Grief
  • Human Rights Abuses / ethnology
  • Human Rights Abuses / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Iraq / ethnology
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / ethnology*
  • Models, Psychological
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • New South Wales
  • Quality of Life*
  • Refugees / psychology*
  • Religion and Psychology
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / ethnology