scholarly journals The Perceptions of Trauma, Complaints, Somatization, and Coping Strategies among Syrian Refugees in Germany—A Qualitative Study of an At-Risk Population

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 693
Author(s):  
Ali Zbidat ◽  
Ekaterini Georgiadou ◽  
Andrea Borho ◽  
Yesim Erim ◽  
Eva Morawa
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Coping Resources ◽  
Syrian Refugees ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
War Experiences ◽  
And Coping

Background: A high prevalence of mental distress, especially posttraumatic stress disorder, has been widely confirmed among refugees. In order to establish adequate interventions in psychotherapy, however, it must first be examined whether refugees have similar ideas and concepts of stress, trauma, and healing. This study, therefore, aimed to analyze the representations of trauma, self-reported complaints, indications of somatization, and coping strategies among a refugee population. Methods: Semi-structured interviews based on the Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI) of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) were conducted with Syrian refugees who have residence permission in Germany. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed according to the qualitative content analysis of Mayring. The foci of interest were determined on the basis of the predefined interview guideline, and inductive subcategories were extracted from the transcripts. Results: Sixteen refugees participated (50% women; mean age: 35.5 years, SD = 11.2; the mean duration of stay in Germany: 23.3 months, SD = 6.6). War experiences were the most frequently reported subjective perceptions of trauma. Frequently reported complaints included sleeping disturbance, cardiovascular symptoms, rumination, and pain. Among half of the participants, we found indications of somatization. We identified the following coping strategies: Activity, cognitive coping, social coping, religious coping, avoidance, and emotional coping. Conclusions: War-related traumatic events are the most common trauma perceptions among Syrian refugees. The self-reported complaints demonstrate somatoform, depressive, and posttraumatic symptoms. Syrian refugees should be screened for somatization, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder and should receive targeted interventions that consider and support individual coping resources.

scholarly journals Interrelationship of Posttraumatic Stress, Hassles, Uplifts, and Coping in Women With a History of Severe Sexual Abuse: A Cross-Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052093547
Author(s):  
Marianne Torp Stensvehagen ◽  
Berit Arnesveen Bronken ◽  
Lars Lien ◽  
Gerry Larsson
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Emotional Stability ◽  
Daily Hassles ◽  
Socioeconomic Conditions ◽  
History Of ◽  
And Coping

Experiencing trauma, such as sexual abuse, increases the risk of a negative health outcome. The aim of the present study was to compare two groups of female survivors of sexual abuse, one group with a lower indication of posttraumatic stress disorder (L-PTSD) and one with a higher indication of posttraumatic stress disorder (H-PTSD). We hypothesized that, with a history of sexual abuse, higher levels of PTSD symptoms would be associated with more daily hassles, fewer daily uplifts, and more maladaptive coping strategies, and that there would be more reporting of severe types of sexual victimization, less resourceful socioeconomic conditions and a lower level of emotional stability. A questionnaire, including measures of socioeconomic conditions, trauma experience, emotional stability (the Single-Item Measures of Personality), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL), daily hassles and uplifts (the Stress Profile), and coping strategies (the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced [COPE] questionnaire), was completed by 57 female users at nine support centers for survivors of incest and sexual abuse in Norway. The results show that the H-PTSD group reported significantly more daily hassles, fewer daily uplifts, and more use of maladaptive coping strategies. The L-PTSD group reported more emotional stability, fewer daily hassles, and more uplifts, and used more adaptive coping strategies. However, few differences were found between the H-PTSD and the L-PTSD groups with regard to severity of sexual abuse and socioeconomic conditions. The results on the hassle, uplift, and coping scales are potentially interesting from an interventional point of view. Major life events such as sexual abuse may be out of control for the afflicted victim. Appraisal of and coping with everyday events, however, can be affected and offer interesting possibilities for interventions directed at the survivor, her significant others, and professional helpers.

scholarly journals Coping strategies as mediators in relation to resilience and posttraumatic stress disorder

2018 ◽  
Vol 225 ◽  
pp. 153-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas J. Thompson ◽  
Devika Fiorillo ◽  
Barbara O. Rothbaum ◽  
Kerry J. Ressler ◽  
Vasiliki Michopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder

scholarly journals Broken Lives? Reflections on the Anthropology of Exile and Repair

Refuge ◽  
1999 ◽  
pp. 30-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
David P. Lumsden
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Medical Anthropology ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Truth Commissions ◽  
Cultural Meaning ◽  
Embodied Experience ◽  
Internally Displaced ◽  
Meaning Systems ◽  
And Coping

This article provides a rethinking of the concept of' exile and promotes its utility regarding both the externally and the internally displaced. It does so from the perspective of Medical Anthropology. A number of variables affecting and shaping the morality, performance, nature and outcomes of exile are identified. Edward Said's views are discussed; but, must exiles always and forever be viewed or be felt as 'broken lives'? The article argues against a naive presumption of 'universalism' to exile's embodied experience and response; instead, the specificities of cultural meaning systems must be taken into account. Further, it argues against analysts' common presumption of pathology and 'posttraumatic stress disorder' among exiles; instead, evidence for 'agency' and 'resilience' in exile populations' health and coping through time must also, and explicitly, be recognized. Finally, where lives are 'broken', the potential of Truth Commissions and 'forgiveness' to be practices of collective repair is noted. Examples are drawn from Africa, Bosnia, Cambodia, Chile, China, Holocaust survivors, and Tibet.

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