V Aarethun1, G M Sandal2, E Guribye3, V Markova4, H H Bye5. 1. University of Bergen, Faculty of Psychology, Department of Psychosocial Science, Christies gate 12, 5015, Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: Vilde.Aarethun@gmail.com. 2. University of Bergen, Faculty of Psychology, Department of Psychosocial Science, Christies gate 12, 5015, Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: Gro.Sandal@uib.no. 3. NORCE Research, Universitetsveien 19, 4630, Kristiansand, Norway. Electronic address: eugu@norceresearch.no. 4. University of Bergen, Faculty of Psychology, Department of Psychosocial Science, Christies gate 12, 5015, Bergen, Norway; SEMI, Center for Migration Health, Bergen Municipality, Norway. Electronic address: Valeria.Markova@uib.no. 5. University of Bergen, Faculty of Psychology, Department of Psychosocial Science, Christies gate 12, 5015, Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: Hege.Bye@uib.no.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study investigates how Syrian refugees explain and prefer to seek help for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. METHODS: We conducted five semi-structured focus group interviews based on a vignette-technique with Syrian refugees (n = 21 men, n = 10 women). The vignettes describe a fictional person suffering from symptoms of PTSD or depression in line with DSM-5 and ICD-10 criteria. RESULTS: Despite never mentioning PTSD, participants in the PTSD-interviews recognized the symptoms. They perceived them as a common reaction to extreme situations, mainly the war, the flight, and post-migratory stressors. Depression was labeled as either depression or feelings caused by social problems, and the participants were more hesitant to identify with these symptoms. Despite some differences, both the PTSD and depression vignettes were explained in terms of situational explanatory models and externally caused stress. The main finding is how participants described changing stressors resulting from migration and resettlement leading to a difference in how they would seek help in Syria and in Norway. Specifically, we found that preferred help-seeking and coping strategies are contextual. CONCLUSIONS: These findings point to the need to consider transformations following forced migration when studying aspects of explanatory models, preferred help-seeking, and coping strategies in refugee groups.
OBJECTIVE: This study investigates how Syrian refugees explain and prefer to seek help for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. METHODS: We conducted five semi-structured focus group interviews based on a vignette-technique with Syrian refugees (n = 21 men, n = 10 women). The vignettes describe a fictional person suffering from symptoms of PTSD or depression in line with DSM-5 and ICD-10 criteria. RESULTS: Despite never mentioning PTSD, participants in the PTSD-interviews recognized the symptoms. They perceived them as a common reaction to extreme situations, mainly the war, the flight, and post-migratory stressors. Depression was labeled as either depression or feelings caused by social problems, and the participants were more hesitant to identify with these symptoms. Despite some differences, both the PTSD and depression vignettes were explained in terms of situational explanatory models and externally caused stress. The main finding is how participants described changing stressors resulting from migration and resettlement leading to a difference in how they would seek help in Syria and in Norway. Specifically, we found that preferred help-seeking and coping strategies are contextual. CONCLUSIONS: These findings point to the need to consider transformations following forced migration when studying aspects of explanatory models, preferred help-seeking, and coping strategies in refugee groups.
Authors: Irja Rzepka; Catharina Zehetmair; Emma Roether; David Kindermann; Anna Cranz; Florian Junne; Hans-Christoph Friederich; Christoph Nikendei Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-09-01 Impact factor: 4.614