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Posttraumatic stress disorder and psychiatric co-morbidity among Syrian refugees: the role of trauma exposure, trauma centrality, self-efficacy and emotional suppression
Author First name, Last name, Institution
Man Cheung Chung, Chinese University of Hong Kong
Nowf AlQarni, Zayed University
Mariam AlMazrouei, Zayed University
Shamsa Al Muhairi
Mudar Shakra, Uppsala University
Britt Mitchell, Zayed University
Sara Al Mazrouei, Zayed University
Shurooq Al Hashimi, Zayed University
Source of Publication
Journal of mental health (Abingdon, England)
Background: The devastation of the Syrian war can lead to a drastic re-evaluation of oneself and alteration in self-capacities. Yet, little is known regarding its impact on these domains among Syrian refugees.Aims: To investigate the inter-relationship between trauma characteristics, trauma centrality, self-efficacy, emotional suppression, PTSD and psychiatric co-morbidity among Syrian refugees.Methods: 1197 refugees from Turkey and Sweden completed the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire-28, Centrality of Event Scale, Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale and Courtauld Emotional Control Scale.Results: Using the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD from the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, 43% met the criteria. The PTSD group reported significantly higher levels of trauma characteristics, trauma centrality and psychiatric co-morbidity but a lower level of self-efficacy than the non-PTSD group. Trauma characteristics were positively associated with trauma centrality; trauma centrality was negatively correlated with self-efficacy. Contrary to hypothesis, self-efficacy was positively correlated with emotional suppression which was positively correlated with psychiatric co-morbidity but not PTSD.Conclusions: The experience of war can lead to the emergence of PTSD among Syrian refugees. Exposure to war can alter self-perception, belief of personal mastery over one's future and the way emotion is expressed, all of which can have specific effects on general psychological symptoms.
DOI Link
Informa Healthcare
Medicine and Health Sciences | Social and Behavioral Sciences
PTSD, Trauma characteristics, centrality, emotional suppression, self-efficacy
Chung, Man Cheung; AlQarni, Nowf; AlMazrouei, Mariam; Al Muhairi, Shamsa; Shakra, Mudar; Mitchell, Britt; Al Mazrouei, Sara; and Al Hashimi, Shurooq, "Posttraumatic stress disorder and psychiatric co-morbidity among Syrian refugees: the role of trauma exposure, trauma centrality, self-efficacy and emotional suppression" (2020). All Works. 2733.
https://zuscholars.zu.ac.ae/works/2733
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