Establishing the feasibility of assessing the mental health of children displaced by the Syrian conflict
Background. In the humanitarian crisis context of conflict zones, collecting data is essential for identifying and addressing the mental health needs of refugee children to avoid mass suffering. This study tested the feasibility of recruiting refugees cari...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2015-01-01
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| Series: | Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425115000035/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1811156095991808000 |
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| author | K. Cartwright A. El-Khani A. Subryan R. Calam |
| author_facet | K. Cartwright A. El-Khani A. Subryan R. Calam |
| author_sort | K. Cartwright |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Background.
In the humanitarian crisis context of conflict zones, collecting data is essential for identifying and addressing the mental health needs of refugee children to avoid mass suffering. This study tested the feasibility of recruiting refugees caring for children and using established and brief parent-report questionnaires in a challenging context to collect mental health data on refugee children displaced by Syria's conflict.
Methods.
Caregivers of 4–10-year olds attending primary schools run by non-governmental organisation (NGO) Generation Freedom in and near refugee camps on the Syrian–Turkish border were invited to complete the Pediatric Emotional Distress Scale (PEDS) and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).
Results.
It was possible to reach 144 adult refugees caring for children with research participation information and use informed consent procedures. A total of 106 caregivers completed the questionnaires yielding a good return rate (74%). Eighty-two (77.4%) caregivers had complete data on the PEDS and 61 (57.5%) on the SDQ. Almost half (49%) of the children met the clinical cut-off for being anxious/withdrawn and 62% for being fearful rated using the PEDS and 45% for SDQ rated emotional symptoms. More than a third had clinical levels of behavioural problems on both scales.
Conclusions.
It proved feasible to collect child mental health data in challenging conditions in the context of the Syrian crisis with support from a local NGO providing humanitarian assistance. The PEDS performed better than the SDQ in this context. High levels of emotional distress and behavioural problems in children reiterate the urgent need for evidence-based psychosocial support.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:45:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-25db8752105a4eb78c0124c96ecbefdb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2054-4251 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:45:50Z |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-25db8752105a4eb78c0124c96ecbefdb2023-03-09T12:35:32ZengCambridge University PressCambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health2054-42512015-01-01210.1017/gmh.2015.3Establishing the feasibility of assessing the mental health of children displaced by the Syrian conflictK. Cartwright0A. El-Khani1A. Subryan2R. Calam3School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Zochonis Building, Brunswick Street, Manchester, M13 9PT, UKSchool of Psychological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Zochonis Building, Brunswick Street, Manchester, M13 9PT, UKSchool of Psychological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Zochonis Building, Brunswick Street, Manchester, M13 9PT, UKSchool of Psychological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Zochonis Building, Brunswick Street, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK Background. In the humanitarian crisis context of conflict zones, collecting data is essential for identifying and addressing the mental health needs of refugee children to avoid mass suffering. This study tested the feasibility of recruiting refugees caring for children and using established and brief parent-report questionnaires in a challenging context to collect mental health data on refugee children displaced by Syria's conflict. Methods. Caregivers of 4–10-year olds attending primary schools run by non-governmental organisation (NGO) Generation Freedom in and near refugee camps on the Syrian–Turkish border were invited to complete the Pediatric Emotional Distress Scale (PEDS) and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Results. It was possible to reach 144 adult refugees caring for children with research participation information and use informed consent procedures. A total of 106 caregivers completed the questionnaires yielding a good return rate (74%). Eighty-two (77.4%) caregivers had complete data on the PEDS and 61 (57.5%) on the SDQ. Almost half (49%) of the children met the clinical cut-off for being anxious/withdrawn and 62% for being fearful rated using the PEDS and 45% for SDQ rated emotional symptoms. More than a third had clinical levels of behavioural problems on both scales. Conclusions. It proved feasible to collect child mental health data in challenging conditions in the context of the Syrian crisis with support from a local NGO providing humanitarian assistance. The PEDS performed better than the SDQ in this context. High levels of emotional distress and behavioural problems in children reiterate the urgent need for evidence-based psychosocial support. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425115000035/type/journal_articleChildrenconflictfeasibilitymental healthSyria |
| spellingShingle | K. Cartwright A. El-Khani A. Subryan R. Calam Establishing the feasibility of assessing the mental health of children displaced by the Syrian conflict Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health Children conflict feasibility mental health Syria |
| title | Establishing the feasibility of assessing the mental health of children displaced by the Syrian conflict |
| title_full | Establishing the feasibility of assessing the mental health of children displaced by the Syrian conflict |
| title_fullStr | Establishing the feasibility of assessing the mental health of children displaced by the Syrian conflict |
| title_full_unstemmed | Establishing the feasibility of assessing the mental health of children displaced by the Syrian conflict |
| title_short | Establishing the feasibility of assessing the mental health of children displaced by the Syrian conflict |
| title_sort | establishing the feasibility of assessing the mental health of children displaced by the syrian conflict |
| topic | Children conflict feasibility mental health Syria |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425115000035/type/journal_article |
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