Posttraumatic Stress Among Syrian Refugees: Trauma Exposure Characteristics, Trauma Centrality, and Emotional Suppression

ORCID Identifiers

0000-0002-4667-0128

Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Psychiatry (New York)

Publication Date

1-2-2018

Abstract

© Washington School of Psychiatry. Objectives: This study revisited the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and examined a hypothesized model describing the interrelationship between trauma exposure characteristics, trauma centrality, emotional suppression, PTSD, and psychiatric comorbidity among Syrian refugees. Methods: A total of 564 Syrian refugees participated in the study and completed the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), Centrality of Event Scale, and Courtauld Emotional Control Scale. Results: Of the participants, 30% met the cutoff for PTSD. Trauma exposure characteristics (experiencing or witnessing horror and murder, kidnapping or disappearance of family members or friends) were associated with trauma centrality, which was associated with emotional suppression. Emotional suppression was associated with PTSD and psychiatric comorbid symptom severities. Suppression mediated the path between trauma centrality and distress outcomes. Conclusions: Almost one-third of refugees can develop PTSD and other psychiatric problems following exposure to traumatic events during war. A traumatized identity can develop, of which life-threatening experiences is a dominant feature, leading to suppression of depression with associated psychological distress.

ISSN

0033-2747

Publisher

Taylor and Francis Inc.

Volume

81

Issue

1

First Page

54

Last Page

70

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Keywords

adult, anxiety, Article, Centrality of Event Scale, comorbidity, coping behavior, Courtauld Emotional Control Scale, depression, emotion, emotional suppression, family relation, female, General Health Questionnaire, Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, human, injury, male, mental health, posttraumatic stress disorder, questionnaire, risk factor, trauma centrality, emotion, inhibition (psychology), mental disease, posttraumatic stress disorder, prevalence, psychology, refugee, statistics and numerical data, Syrian Arab Republic, young adult, Adult, Comorbidity, Emotions, Female, Humans, Inhibition (Psychology), Male, Mental Disorders, Prevalence, Refugees, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Syria, Young Adult

Scopus ID

85042939395

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

no

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