Appraisals and emotion regulation mediate the effects of identity salience and cumulative stressors and traumas, on PTG and mental health: The case of Syrian’s IDPs and refugees

Abstract

One of the relatively ignored variables in most refugees’ trauma studies is the role of the damaged identities. We extended the model of identity as a dynamic non-linear system in the context of identity traumas and tested it in Syrian refugees. We empirically explored the effects of identity salience and cumulative stressors and traumas (CST), as mediated by appraisal and emotional regulation, on posttraumatic growth (PTG) and mental health of Syrian internally displaced (IDP) and refugees. We utilized data previously collected from 502 Syrian IDPS (195) and refugees in the Nederland (111) and Egypt (196). The data included measures of PTG, CST, PTSD, cumulative trauma disorders (CTD), emotion regulation (reappraisal and suppression) and identity salience. CST measure contains subscales for negative and positive tertiary appraisal. The analysis included descriptives, correlations, curve-estimation regression, path analysis, and multigroup structural invariance. Results indicated that increased identity salience was significantly related to higher reappraisal, higher PTG and a higher positive appraisal and significant effects on a lower negative appraisal. It had a significant impact on a lower CTD and PTSD. Increased CST was associated with higher PTSD, CTD, and especially CTD-suicidality, and CTD-psychosis/dissociation. The model was strictly invariant across genders. We discussed a paradigm shift to identity-focused assessment and interventions for refugees.