Associations among migration risk factors, cultural identity conflict, and psychological symptoms among Syrian emerging adults with refugee backgrounds in the Netherlands

Abstract Objectives In the present study, we examined relations between premigration, perimigration, and postmigration risk factors (i.e., potentially traumatic events [PTEs], postmigration living problems [PMLPs], stressful life events) and psychological symptoms (i.e., anxiety/depression, posttraumatic stress) in Syrian emerging adults with refugee backgrounds; we also tested cultural identity conflict as a possible mediator of these relations. We expected that greater exposure to migration risk factors was associated with more psychological symptoms and that higher cultural identity conflic... Mehr ...

Verfasser: Rahim, Haza F.
Mooren, Trudy T. M.
Knipscheer, Jeroen W.
van den Brink, Femke
Chung, Joanne M.
Laceulle, Odilia M.
Boelen, Paul A.
Dokumenttyp: Artikel
Erscheinungsdatum: 2023
Reihe/Periodikum: Journal of Clinical Psychology ; volume 79, issue 5, page 1434-1451 ; ISSN 0021-9762 1097-4679
Verlag/Hrsg.: Wiley
Sprache: Englisch
Permalink: https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-28808252
Datenquelle: BASE; Originalkatalog
Powered By: BASE
Link(s) : http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23492

Abstract Objectives In the present study, we examined relations between premigration, perimigration, and postmigration risk factors (i.e., potentially traumatic events [PTEs], postmigration living problems [PMLPs], stressful life events) and psychological symptoms (i.e., anxiety/depression, posttraumatic stress) in Syrian emerging adults with refugee backgrounds; we also tested cultural identity conflict as a possible mediator of these relations. We expected that greater exposure to migration risk factors was associated with more psychological symptoms and that higher cultural identity conflict would contribute to these associations. Methods We used data from the first wave of Karakter, a longitudinal study of 158 Syrians with refugee backgrounds (69.0% men, age range 18–35). Participants completed a questionnaire assessing PTEs, PMLPs, stressful life events, cultural identity conflict, and symptoms of anxiety/depression and posttraumatic stress. Results Correlational analyses indicated that more PTEs and stressful life events were related to higher levels of cultural identity conflict and more psychological symptoms. Furthermore, greater cultural identity conflict was associated with more psychological symptoms. We did not observe indirect effects of cultural identity conflict in the mediation analyses. Conclusions Results suggest that postmigration stressors and cultural identity conflict are associated with psychological symptoms among Syrian emerging adults who have resettled in the Netherlands.