A longitudinal study of mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Syrian refugees
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased anxiety and depression around the world. Refugees may be particularly vulnerable to the mental health effects of the pandemic because of their higher rates of mental health disorders, trauma histories, and daily stressors. Objectives: This...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2021-01-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1991651 |
| _version_ | 1797844540606906368 |
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| author | Aemal Akhtar Ahmad Bawaneh Manar Awwad Hadeel Al-Hayek Marit Sijbrandij Pim Cuijpers Richard A. Bryant |
| author_facet | Aemal Akhtar Ahmad Bawaneh Manar Awwad Hadeel Al-Hayek Marit Sijbrandij Pim Cuijpers Richard A. Bryant |
| author_sort | Aemal Akhtar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased anxiety and depression around the world. Refugees may be particularly vulnerable to the mental health effects of the pandemic because of their higher rates of mental health disorders, trauma histories, and daily stressors. Objectives: This study used data from a controlled trial of a brief behavioural intervention for psychological distress in Syrian refugees living in Azraq Camp in Jordan to examine the psychological effects of the pandemic on refugee mental health. Method: A total of 410 participants were randomized to either the intervention or control arms of the trial and were assessed at baseline and 3-month follow-up. Half the sample (199; 48.5%) completed their 3-month follow-up assessment after the pandemic restrictions began in Jordan and 211 (51.5%) completed the assessment prior to the pandemic. Refugees were independently assessed for symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression at baseline and follow-up, and pandemic-related worries were assessed at follow-up for those who completed their assessment during the pandemic. Results: The most commonly reported worries were economic difficulties (82.4%), shortage of essential supplies (71.3%), and infecting others (59.7%) or themselves (51.9%). Refugees who were assessed during the pandemic had less severe PTSD symptoms than those assessed prior to the pandemic. Significant predictors of pandemic-related worries were lower levels of depression prior to the pandemic and greater anxiety during the pandemic. Conclusion: These findings highlight the specific needs of refugees during the pandemic and suggest that pre-existing mental health issues may not necessarily be the key risk factors for who will experience major mental health issues or worries during the pandemic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:24:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a144d55e04a8448b9e0f96fbae56f8c3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2000-8066 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:24:09Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| spelling | doaj.art-a144d55e04a8448b9e0f96fbae56f8c32023-04-18T14:59:10ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEuropean Journal of Psychotraumatology2000-80662021-01-0112110.1080/20008198.2021.19916511991651A longitudinal study of mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Syrian refugeesAemal Akhtar0Ahmad Bawaneh1Manar Awwad2Hadeel Al-Hayek3Marit Sijbrandij4Pim Cuijpers5Richard A. Bryant6University of New South WalesJordan Country Office, International Medical CorpsJordan Country Office, International Medical CorpsJordan Country Office, International Medical CorpsWorld Health Organization Collaborating Center for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamWorld Health Organization Collaborating Center for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamUniversity of New South WalesBackground: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased anxiety and depression around the world. Refugees may be particularly vulnerable to the mental health effects of the pandemic because of their higher rates of mental health disorders, trauma histories, and daily stressors. Objectives: This study used data from a controlled trial of a brief behavioural intervention for psychological distress in Syrian refugees living in Azraq Camp in Jordan to examine the psychological effects of the pandemic on refugee mental health. Method: A total of 410 participants were randomized to either the intervention or control arms of the trial and were assessed at baseline and 3-month follow-up. Half the sample (199; 48.5%) completed their 3-month follow-up assessment after the pandemic restrictions began in Jordan and 211 (51.5%) completed the assessment prior to the pandemic. Refugees were independently assessed for symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression at baseline and follow-up, and pandemic-related worries were assessed at follow-up for those who completed their assessment during the pandemic. Results: The most commonly reported worries were economic difficulties (82.4%), shortage of essential supplies (71.3%), and infecting others (59.7%) or themselves (51.9%). Refugees who were assessed during the pandemic had less severe PTSD symptoms than those assessed prior to the pandemic. Significant predictors of pandemic-related worries were lower levels of depression prior to the pandemic and greater anxiety during the pandemic. Conclusion: These findings highlight the specific needs of refugees during the pandemic and suggest that pre-existing mental health issues may not necessarily be the key risk factors for who will experience major mental health issues or worries during the pandemic.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1991651pandemiccovid-19refugee campsyriamental health |
| spellingShingle | Aemal Akhtar Ahmad Bawaneh Manar Awwad Hadeel Al-Hayek Marit Sijbrandij Pim Cuijpers Richard A. Bryant A longitudinal study of mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Syrian refugees European Journal of Psychotraumatology pandemic covid-19 refugee camp syria mental health |
| title | A longitudinal study of mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Syrian refugees |
| title_full | A longitudinal study of mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Syrian refugees |
| title_fullStr | A longitudinal study of mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Syrian refugees |
| title_full_unstemmed | A longitudinal study of mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Syrian refugees |
| title_short | A longitudinal study of mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Syrian refugees |
| title_sort | longitudinal study of mental health before and during the covid 19 pandemic in syrian refugees |
| topic | pandemic covid-19 refugee camp syria mental health |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1991651 |
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