Identifying subgroups of refugees from Syria resettled in Sweden based on multiple trauma exposures: A latent class analysis of trauma history and mental health outcomes.Show others and affiliations
2019 (English)In: Journal of Psychosomatic Research, ISSN 0022-3999, E-ISSN 1879-1360, Vol. 125, article id 109814Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
OBJECTIVE: Many refugees have been subjected to pre-migratory trauma. Evidence is needed to address the heterogeneity within refugee populations in regard to patterns of multiple trauma exposures. This study identified subgroups within a refugee population displaying different profiles of multiple trauma exposures and assessed sociodemographic predictors and differences in mental health symptom severity across these classes.
METHODS: Study population consisted of 1215 refugees from Syria resettled in Sweden. Latent class analysis 3-step method for modelling predictors and outcomes and a class-specific weighted multigroup approach were used to identify classes of refugees using self-reported data on violent and non-violent trauma exposures, sociodemographic variables and symptom severity scores for depression, anxiety and PTSD.
RESULTS: Three classes were identified: class 1 'multiple violent and non-violent trauma' (39.3%, n = 546); class 2 'witnessing violence and multiple non-violent trauma' (40.8%, n = 569); and class 3 'low multiple non-violent trauma' (20.1%, n = 281). Trauma exposure and gender significantly predicted class membership. Male gender and highest severity of mental ill health defined class 1. Female gender predicted higher mental ill health within classes 1 and 2. Across all three classes living with a partner was associated with lower severity of mental ill health regardless of trauma exposure classes.
CONCLUSIONS: There are distinct patterns within refugee populations concerning exposure to multiple trauma. Violence is a primary marker for higher likelihood of multiple trauma exposures and severity of mental health. Gender predisposes individuals to trauma exposure and its outcomes differentially.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2019. Vol. 125, article id 109814
Keywords [en]
Anxiety, Depression, Latent class analysis, Multiple trauma, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Refugees
National Category
Occupational Health and Environmental Health
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:rkh:diva-3035DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2019.109814PubMedID: 31470254OAI: oai:DiVA.org:rkh-3035DiVA, id: diva2:1349143
Funder
Forte, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, 2016-071942019-09-062019-09-062021-09-09Bibliographically approved