RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Syrian and Iraqi refugees are a growing segment of the U.S. population, and although exposure to war and violence has been linked to psychological distress in individual refugees, few studies have examined the distress in married couples. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design, a convenience sample of 101 Syrian and Iraqi refugee couples was recruited from a community agency. The purpose of this study was to (1) examine the relationships between perceived adversity and psychological distress (PTSD, anxiety, and depressive symptoms) among individual study participants; and (2) determine whether these relationships were correlated to their spouses' perceived adversity and psychological distress. RESULTS: The bivariate correlation analysis showed strong positive correlations between PTSD and depression/anxiety for wives (r = .79; p < .001) and for husbands (r = .74; p < .001). There were also low- to mid-range positive cross-associations between husbands' and wives' PTSD (r = .34; p = .001) and depression/anxiety (r = .43; p < .001). Finally, we found a significant positive association between husbands' and wives' perception of adversity (r = .44; p < .001). Interestingly, the husbands' perception of adversity was positively associated with their PTSD (r = .30; p = .02) and depression/ anxiety scores (r = .26; p = .04) as well as with their wives' depression/ anxiety scores (r = .23; p = .08). In contrast, the wives' perception of adversity was not associated with either their own or their spouses' psychological distress. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that war, trauma, and stress of migration impact the couple as a unit, possibly due to shared experiences, and the impact of one partner's stress on the other. Addressing these perceptions and personal interpretations of the adverse experiences via cognitive therapy approaches could help reduce not only stress in the individual but also that of their partner.
Asunto(s)
Distrés Psicológico , Refugiados , Humanos , Estados Unidos , Estudios Transversales , Matrimonio/psicología , Esposos/psicologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Exposure to armed conflict and fleeing country of origin for refugees has been associated with poorer psychological health. METHODS: Within the first month following their arrival in the United States, 152 Syrian and Iraqi refugees were screened in a primary care setting for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression and rated their perceived health, and perceived level of adversity of violence, armed conflict/flight. The moderating effects of psychiatric symptoms on the relation between perceived adversity and perceived health were assessed. RESULTS: Three models based on diagnosis (PTSD, anxiety, and depression) were tested. While significant effects were found on perceived adversity negatively influencing perceived health across diagnoses, slightly different patterns emerged based on diagnosis. DISCUSSION: Findings suggest that refugees' perception regarding adversity of violence, armed conflict, and flight may contribute to perceived health, with a moderating role of clinically significant symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression.