Refugee Survivors Research Articles

Assessing the Severity of Earthquake Trauma on Syrian Refugee Survivors in Southern Turkey and Displaced Individuals in Northwest Syria

The study sought to investigate the extent and intensity of earthquake-related psychological distress experienced by Syrian refugee survivors residing in southern Turkey and displaced individuals in northwest Syria. A technique focused on providing detailed descriptions and conducting thorough analysis was employed. Three scales of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Trauma History Screen (THS), and Brief Trauma Questionnaire (BTQ) were used. The study included 600 participants, with 300 participants from each region. The prevalence rate of PTSD among survivors one year after the 2023 Turkey earthquake was high, around 68%. while the prevalence rate of THS and BTQ was low. The results for PTSD indicated that there were statistically significant differences only between age and marital status in southern Turkey. As for northwest Syria, there were statistically significant differences only in gender. The results for THS and BTQ indicated statistically significant differences only between gender, age, and working status in southern Turkey. As for northwest Syria, there were statistically significant differences between gender, education level, and working status. There was a positive direct correlation between PTSD on the one hand and THS and BTQ on the other hand. This indicates that the level of PTSD increases as THS and BTQ increase. In regression analysis, the results showed that THS and BTQ contribute to interpreting the variance in PTSD. When THS and BTQ increase, they contribute to increased symptoms of PTSD. The beta value for THS in southern Turkey and northwestern Syria was (β = 1.127, β = 0.793), respectively. While the beta value for BTQ in southern Turkey was (β = 0.70) .Conclusions: Both THS and BTQ make a statistically significant contribution to explaining the variations in PTSD among survivors in the research of the two locations. The incidence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among survivors was 68%. PTSD was found to be linked with older age, female gender, widowhood, and divorce.

Viable justice: survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and/or torture amongst South Sudanese refugees living in settlements in Northern Uganda

PurposeThe study aimed to listen to refugee survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and/or torture and explore what justice meant to them in exile. This study argues that what the survivors who participated in this research wanted was “viable justice”. The research was funded by the British Academy and Leverhulme Trust.Design/methodology/approachUsing a survivor-focussed justice lens combined with a trauma-informed approach, narrative interviews were held with 41 women and 20 men refugee survivors living in refugee settlements in Northern Uganda. The researchers also conducted semi-structured interviews with 37 key informants including refugee welfare councils, the UN, civil society, non-government and government organisations. Thematic analysis of the data resulted in the following themes being identified: no hope of formal justice for atrocities that occurred in South Sudan; insecurity; lack of confidence in transitional justice processes in Ugandan refugee settlements; abuse and loss of freedom in refugee settlements; and lack of access to health and justice services in refugee settlements.FindingsThis study argues that what the survivors who participated in this research wanted was “viable justice”. That is justice that is survivor-centred and includes elements of traditional and transitional justice, underpinned by social justice. By including the voices of both men and women survivors of SGBV and/or torture and getting the views of service providers and other stakeholders, this paper offers an alternative form of justice to the internationally accepted types of justice, which offer little relevance or restitution to refugees, particularly where the crime has been committed in a different country and where there is little chance that perpetrators will be prosecuted in a formal court of law.Research limitations/implicationsThe research findings are based on a small sample of South Sudanese refugees living in three refugee settlements in Northern Uganda. Thus, wider conclusions should not be drawn. However, the research does suggest that a “viable justice” approach should be implemented that is gender and culturally sensitive and which could also be trialled in different refugee contexts.Practical implicationsImprovements in refugee survivors’ dignity, resilience and recovery are dependent upon the active engagement of refugees themselves using a “survivor-focussed approach” which combines formal and community-based health services with traditional and transitional justice responses.Social implicationsThe provision of a “viable justice approach” ensures those who have experienced SGBV and/or torture, and their families, feel validated. It will assist them to use their internal, cultural and traditional resilience and agency in the process of recovery.Originality/valueThe research findings are original in that data was collected from men and women survivors of SGBV and/or torture and service providers. The empirical evidence supports this study’s recommendation for an approach that combines both formal and survivor-focussed approaches towards health and viable justice services to meet the needs of refugees living in refugee settlements. This is a response that listens to and responds to the needs of refugee survivors in a way that continues to build their resilience and agency and restores their dignity.

Assisting refugee survivors of torture and trauma: An existential perspective.

Consistent exposure to refugee narratives of trauma and torture can profoundly impact trauma therapists. This secondary analysis reanalyzed data from a narrative inquiry investigating the lived experiences of refugee trauma therapists. We aimed to explore emergent concerns through an existential lens to enrich understanding and provide additional insights into the lived experiences of these individuals. Participants in this purposive sample (N = 19) were therapists who had provided interventions to refugees for 2-34 years. Narrative construction, theory-guided data analysis, and memo writing were used to reanalyze data generated by semistructured interviews augmented by photo elicitation. The findings indicate that being forced to reevaluate familiar beliefs consequent to one's professional roles induced intense existential moments, described as "a dark night of the soul," "the paradox of life and death," "uncanny feelings of not being at home," and "a falling." Acknowledging the complexities of the field, an existential framework to assist refugee trauma therapists in metabolizing and living with the professional challenges they encounter instead of focusing on alleviating decontextualized symptoms of distress is recommended. Research to inform requirements of the space to enable refugee trauma therapists to share their concerns and facilitate transitions toward more authentic, nonevasive sense of "being-in-the-world" is suggested.

Male Survivors’ Disclosure of Conflict‐Related Sexual Violence in Mental Health Care Settings: Results from a Phenomenological Study with Clinical Experts in Germany

Conflict‐related sexual violence (CRSV) can severely impair survivors’ mental health and prompt their need for mental health care. Male survivors face gender‐related barriers to disclosing experiences of sexual violence, yet the understanding of factors impeding or promoting disclosure is limited. This knowledge gap is even more pronounced regarding male disclosure in refugee settings. The high prevalence of CRSV experiences in male refugees in European host countries points to the urgency of understanding male disclosure processes along with its barriers and facilitators, in order to provide for adequate mental health care. 10 clinical experts working with male survivors of CRSV in Germany were interviewed adopting an explorative phenomenological approach and using the Problem‐Centered Interview. Qualitative content analysis yielded five themes describing male disclosure of CRSV: 1. Experiences of CRSV commonly remain nonverbalized, 2. Disclosure of CRSV is a dialogical and iterative process, 3. The process of (non‐)disclosure is a negotiation of agency, 4. Disclosure of CRSV affects the survivor’s psychoemotional state, and 5. Disclosure and recovery are interdependent processes. Additionally, seven categories describing barriers to and facilitators of male disclosure were extracted: 1. trauma characteristics, 2. survivor variables, 3. clinician variables, 4. interpreter variables, 5. interpersonal variables, 6. contextual variables, and 7. sociocultural variables. Clinical experts emphasize the effectivity of a gender‐specific communicative taboo for male refugee survivors that intersect with socio‐cultural norms. Variables characterizing survivors who are at risk of not disclosing CRSV are identified. A discussion of clinical approaches to address the taboo surrounding CRSV and to support male refugee survivors in agentic disclosure and recovery is provided.

What do trauma workers experience when assisting refugee survivors of torture and trauma? A narrative inquiry.

What do trauma workers experience when assisting refugee survivors of torture and trauma? A narrative inquiry.

Seeking Help From Primary Health-Care Providers in High-Income Countries: A Scoping Review of the Experiences of Migrant and Refugee Survivors of Domestic Violence.

Migrant and refugee women experiencing domestic violence (DV) may face compounding factors that impact their ability and experiences of seeking help. Health-care providers are in a unique position to identify and assist victims of DV, however, they often lack the confidence and training to do this well. Little is known of the health-care experiences of migrant and refugee women experiencing abuse when they access primary health care (PHC). Using scoping review methodology, we undertook a systematic search of seven databases (Medline, Scopus, ProQuest, CINAHL, Informit Complete, and Google Scholar). We sought peer-reviewed and grey literature, published in English between January 1980 and August 2021 that identified women (18+) who had experienced DV, from low- or middle-income countries (LMICs), seeking help or health care in a primary care setting of a high-income country (HIC). Nine articles met the inclusion criteria. Findings identify sociocultural and sociopolitical barriers for migrant and refugee women seeking help for DV, which are contextualized within the ecological model. Migration-related factors and fear were major barriers for migrant and refugee women, while kindness, empathy and trust in health-care providers, and children's well-being were the strongest motivators for help-seeking and disclosure. This review provides insight into an under-researched and marginalized group of victim-survivors and highlights the need for increased awareness, guidance, and continuing education for health-care providers and health-care systems to provide best practice DV care for migrant and refugee women.

Mental health of recently arrived male refugees in Germany reporting sexual violence

ABSTRACT Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is one of the most severe and stigmatizing human rights violations. The recognition of men and boys as targets of sexual violence is a rather recent development. In the present study data on experiences of sexual violence as well as mental health outcomes were analysed in recently arrived male refugees (N = 392) in Germany. Almost one third of the men interviewed (n = 128; 32.7%) reported having experienced sexual violence. Compared to male refugees without experiences of sexual violence, male refugee survivors showed higher prevalence rates of PTSD. Moreover, some differences were found between the subgroups on the single symptoms level, indicating higher severity in those affected by sexual violence, including negative alterations in cognition/mood, suicidal ideation, and nervousness or shakiness inside. The findings provide initial data on prevalence of sexual violence and related mental health outcomes in male refugees newly arrived in Germany and emphasize the significance of sexual violence as a risk factor for different mental health outcomes. This provides clear implications for health care professionals that could aid them in better identifying those affected. Finally, further research is urgently needed that takes a closer, more differentiated look at sexual violence in male refugee populations.

Critical Roles of Refugee Leaders and Service Providers in the Gender-based Violence (GBV) Help-Seeking of Refugee Survivors

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a complicated challenge embedded in displaced people’s lived experiences throughout the conflict displacement cycle. Despite the awareness of existing institutionalised help-seeking referral pathways, these do not necessarily translate to the full utilisation of such services. This paper examines the critical role of refugee leaders and service providers in potentially enabling and realising a GBV survivor’s help-seeking. By adapting a meso-level analysis, it attempts to explain how social networks built within conflict and displacement contribute to responding to GBV. Based on the review of collected interviews in 2019 from refugee leaders and service providers working with South Sudanese refugees in selected settlements in Uganda, the paper reflects on the importance of network, norms and trust in effectively responding to GBV in conditions of conflict-affected displacement.

Identifying resilience-promoting factors for refugee survivors of torture.

There are 1.3 million refugee survivors of torture living in the United States today. An existing body of research with refugees has largely examined mental health, but few of these studies focused on resilience. Using a clinical sample of refugee survivors of torture, we tested the resiliencepromoting factors of community engagement, employment, English fluency, and psychological flexibility. We conducted moderation and mediation analyses to investigate how these resilience-promoting factors impact the torture-mental health relationship. Torture severity had significant positive associations with all mental health symptoms including PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), depression, and anxiety. Conversely, psychological flexibility had significant negative associations with all mental health symptoms. Additionally, psychological flexibility was a significant mediator of the torture-mental health relationship, highlighting its potential as a causal mechanism between torture and mental health. This evidence suggested that experiencing greater torture severity led to greater mental health problems in part via difficulties in psychological flexibility. Separately, English fluency and employment status were negatively correlated with mental health symptoms. The findings from this study identified potentially resilience-promoting factors for refugee survivors of torture and contributed to both research and clinical insights in better serving this vulnerable population.

Whose Victims and Whose Survivors? Polish Jewish Refugees between Holocaust and Gulag Memory Cultures

ABSTRACT Holocaust and Gulag studies are witnessing the belated emergence of the Soviet experience of Jewish escapees from Nazi-occupied Poland as a lieu de mémoire in its own right. Although not commemorated in official ritual, museum spaces, or memorial sites, the sheer mass of published testimonies by survivors of this experience far outweighs the previous lack of attention to the refugees’ story. It was the agency of the refugee survivors themselves which subsequently put their Soviet experience on the mnemonic map of World War II. This article discusses both the reasons for that lack of attention and the current growing interest in their accounts. It proposes a typology based on questions of victimhood and perpetratorship, analyzed through the contrast between the way the Jewish exiles in the USSR interpreted their experiences and how those who experienced the Holocaust directly interpreted theirs. The article thus asks, whose victims did the refugees consider themselves, the Germans’ or the Soviets’?

Vicarious Impacts of Working with Refugees and Asylum Seekers: An Integrative Review

A majority of people from a refugee background endure cumulative traumatic experiences that are compounded by acculturative distress, which disrupts their systems of safety, support, sense of justice, and identity. Literature highlighting the impacts of consistently bearing witness to traumatic experiences and addressing the multiple needs of refugee survivors of trauma is limited. This integrative review is based on a systematic database and citation search in Scopus, PsycINFO, PTSDpubs and PubMed and identified four interrelated themes, as a sequel to refugee trauma work: Being challenged by refugee narratives, Altered beliefs and attitudes, Benefits or rewards, and Coping strategies. The review highlights that extant literature in the field of refugee trauma does not sufficiently capture unique, experiential complexities in the sector. It identifies the need for additional research with methodological rigor and a comprehensive theoretical framework to capture the varied vicarious impacts of working with refugee survivors of trauma.

“We Have to Build Trust”: Intimate Partner Violence Risk Assessment with Immigrant and Refugee Survivors

Abstract Intimate partner violence (IPV) research highlights unique immigration-related risk factors, abusive tactics, and barriers to seeking help. With the aim of developing practice-informed guidance, data from nine focus groups (N = 57) were analyzed thematically to examine practitioners’ experiences and approaches to risk assessment with survivors of IPV who are immigrants and refugees. Participants noted the importance of fostering relationships and trust in client disclosure and assessment of risk. Participants highlighted using a conversation-based approach; carefully chosen words; and open-ended, indirect, and probing questions to help clients feel at ease and generate information regarding risk. Additionally, practitioners emphasized the importance of conducting risk assessment and client education in concert with safety and service planning. However, safety and service planning must account for variations in context and language, as well as social pressures to keep families together. The adaptation of risk assessments to reflect immigrant experiences is a critical step forward. Nevertheless, listening to practitioners with expertise serving immigrant and refugee IPV survivors and developing additional guidance on how to use risk assessment tools and engage survivors are paramount to expanding relevant and responsive domestic violence services for diverse groups.

Multilevel Determinants of Integrated Service Delivery for Intimate Partner Violence and Mental Health in Humanitarian Settings.

Inter-agency guidelines recommend that survivors of intimate partner violence in humanitarian settings receive multisectoral services consistent with a survivor-centered approach. Providing integrated services across sectors is challenging, and aspirations often fall short in practice. In this study, we explore factors that influence the implementation of a multisectoral, integrated intervention intended to reduce psychological distress and intimate partner violence in Nyarugusu Refugee Camp, Tanzania. We analyzed data from a desk review of donor, legal, and policy documents; a gender-based violence services mapping conducted through 15 interviews and 6 focus group discussions; and a qualitative process evaluation with 29 stakeholders involved in the implementation of the integrated psychosocial program. We identified the challenges of implementing a multisectoral, integrated intervention for refugee survivors of intimate partner violence at the structural, inter-institutional, intra-institutional, and in social and interpersonal levels. Key determinants of successful implementation included the legal context, financing, inter-agency coordination, engagement and ownership, and the ability to manage competing priorities. Implementing a multisectoral, integrated response for survivors of intimate partner violence is complex and influenced by interrelated factors from policy and financing to institutional and stakeholder engagement. Further investment in identifying strategies to overcome the existing challenges of implementing multisectoral approaches that align with global guidelines is needed to effectively address the burden of intimate partner violence in humanitarian settings.

‘The English language enables me to visit my pain’. Exploring experiences of using a later-learned language in the healing journey of survivors of sexuality persecution

Aims and objectives: This qualitative study explores the experience of using a later-learned language, English (ELX), in the therapeutic journey of refugee survivors of sexuality persecution to enhance understanding of the role of language in their rehabilitation. Design/methodology/approach: This is a multiple case study of three refugees, persecuted in their home country because of their sexual orientation, who are regular attendees of a therapeutic community, Room to Heal, based in London. A qualitatively driven mixed-method research design using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and ethnography was employed. Data and analysis: Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with the first author. They consisted of questions about the relationship between the participants’ languages, emotions and sense of self. Findings/conclusions: Participants shared common positive experiences characterised by feelings of the ELX being a liberating tool that empowered them and enabled them to bear witness to their trauma, express their same-sex love more easily and be more self-accepting, and contributed to the (re)invention and performance of a ‘new’ self. Originality: The originality resides first in the unique profile of the participants – victims of persecution because of their sexual orientation; second in the unique context – a therapeutic community supporting refugees; and third in the methodology – a qualitatively driven mixed-method design combining IPA and ethnography. Significance/implications: The findings support an embodied perspective of languages and highlight the need for therapists to be aware of multilingualism and its effects. The reduced emotional resonance of a later-learned language may offer its users a way to access trauma and build a new self within the therapeutic process.

Reconstructing a Sense of Safety among Resettled Refugee Survivors of Torture: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study

Introduction:The experience of torture can have a lasting impact on survivors’ physical, psychological and social well-being and threaten their sense of safety. Methods: This study utilized a constructivist grounded theory approach to describe the strategies and tactics for reconstructing a sense of safety used by torture survivors receiving holistic treatment after resettlement. Results: The description that emerged included the following four themes: seeking out a “safer” physical environment, turning inward, forming selective “safe” attachments, and strengthening personal resources. Discussion: These findings highlight the importance of designing interventions that recognize safety as a critical component of the healing process.

Longitudinal Changes in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder After Resettlement Among Yazidi Female Refugees Exposed to Violence

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is highly prevalent among refugees surviving mass atrocities, especially among women. Longitudinal studies investigating factors associated with PTSD course are essential to enable adequate treatment yet widely lacking. To identify longitudinal changes in PTSD severity and posttraumatic coping among severely traumatized female refugees as well as risk and protective factors for PTSD course. This prospective cohort study took place in 14 German cities in the context of a humanitarian admission program that resettled 1000 especially vulnerable women and children from northern Iraq to Germany. Approximately 400 adult beneficiaries of the humanitarian admission program were eligible for the study. At baseline, a total of 116 of the 400 beneficiaries (29.0%) participated, with 96 (82.8%) of these women participating in the follow-up assessment. The study included a baseline assessment conducted 2 years after resettlement (September 1, 2017, to January 12, 2018) and a 1-year follow-up (August 29, 2018, to January 15, 2019). Violence and/or captivity during the 2014 genocide in northern Iraq by the so-called Islamic State. Posttraumatic stress disorder severity and coping strategies were assessed in interpreter-aided interviews using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised. A total of 116 women (mean [SD] age, 32.2 [8.2] years; 115 [99.1%] Yazidi; 1 [0.9%] Christian) participated at baseline. According to the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, a high PTSD severity was found (mean [SD] raw sum score, 60.88 [15.75] of 88, with higher scores indicating greater distress), with no significant change over time. Helpful coping strategies included prayer, belief in collective strength, and belief in personal strength. Earlier symptoms of intrusions (β = 0.389, P = .007) and longer captivity (β = 0.218, P = .02) were identified as being associated with PTSD severity 1 year later. Longer captivity was associated with PTSD aggravation over time (β = 0.227, P = .04). Posttraumatic strengthening in faith (β = -0.206, P = .05) and in social relationships (β = -0.221, P = .03) were associated with a reduction in PTSD symptoms. These findings suggest that female refugee survivors of genocide are at high risk for severe and chronic PTSD beyond the initial years of resettlement. The findings provide suggestions for mental health care specialized for particularly vulnerable populations.

“It’s about Building a Network of Support”: Australian Service Provider Experiences Supporting Refugee Survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

Refugees face a heightened risk of sexual and gender-based violence during conflict, transit and in countries of refuge. Despite long-term impacts on survivors, scholarship regarding effective responses remains limited. This paper presents a qualitative thematic analysis from in-depth interviews with 22 Australian service providers. Using a socio-ecological intersectional framework it explores the challenges faced in supporting survivors while highlighting features of effective practice. Findings emphasize the need for a holistic and integrated approach, responsive to socio-economic and immigration conditions, the impact of stigma and fear of authorities, service-system funding models, and the need for an appropriately supported culturally diverse workforce.

\u201cI just need to be with my family\u201d: resettlement experiences of asylum seeker and refugee survivors of torture

A global migration of individuals fleeing persecution, violence and armed conflict reached almost 60 million world-wide in 2015. This world-wide crisis of displacement reflects people seeking safety across borders and oceans; dangerous journeys that compound the trauma endured by these women, men and children. Refugees/asylum seekers face barriers upon entry to the U.S. The Western New York Center for Survivors (WNYCST) provides care coordination/trauma-informed care to mitigate these challenges. The objective of this study was to explore the resettlement experiences of survivors of torture living in Western New York, who had received services from the WNYCST; identifying challenges, unmet needs, and services that were helpful. Secondarily, we describe the experiences of asylum seekers and legally resettled refugees, who due to their differing legal status, might be expected to have different experiences. Data were collected using semi-structured qualitative interviews.ResultsThree themes emerged: mental health challenges, relating to their experiences in their home country and their separation from family; unmet needs, including lack of a sense of purpose and meaning, difficulty navigating services, and missing connections to community; and coping strategies, including WNYCST assistance with connecting with sources of social support in their new community. WNYCST services were helpful, particularly the assistance and connection with care coordinators and local support groups. This care and outreach helped to mitigate feelings of separation and apartness from their home countries and families.ConclusionsSome refugees/asylum seekers continue to struggle with unmet needs, issues of loss and isolation. If care providers recognize signs of stress early, appropriate interventions can be implemented. Care connections and trauma informed treatment with an emphasis on recreating ties with communities, may be one important factor in ensuring successful integration.

Sexual and gender-based violence and torture experiences of Sudanese refugees in Northern Uganda: health and justice responses

Purpose This British Academy/Leverhulme-funded research (Grant number: SG170394) investigated the experiences and impact of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and torture on South Sudanese refugees’ health and rights and the responses of health and justice services in Northern Uganda. Design/methodology/approach It involved thematic analysis of the narratives of 20 men and 41 women refugees’ survivors of SGBV and torture; this included their experiences in South Sudan, their journeys to Uganda and experiences in refugee settlements. In total, 37 key stakeholders including health and justice providers, police, non-government and government organisations were also interviewed regarding their experiences of providing services to refugees. Findings All refugees had survived human rights abuses carried out in South Sudan, on route to Uganda and within Uganda. Incidents of violence, SGBV, torture and other human rights abuses declined significantly for men in Uganda, but women reported SGBV incidents. The research demonstrates linkages between the physical, psychological, social/cultural and justice/human rights impact on women and men refugees, which amplified the impact of their experiences. There was limited screening, physical and psychological health and support services; including livelihoods and education. Refugees remained concerned about violence and SGBV in the refugee settlements. While they all knew of the reporting system for such incidents, they questioned the effectiveness of the process. For this reason, women opted for family reconciliation rather than reporting domestic violence or SGBV to the authorities. Men found it hard to report incidences due to high levels of stigma and shame. Research limitations/implications Refugees largely fled South Sudan to escape human rights abuses including, persecution, SGBV and torture. Their experiences resulted in physical, psychological, social-cultural and justice effects that received limited responses by health and justice services. An integrated approach to meeting refugees’ needs is required. Practical implications The authors make recommendations for integrated gender sensitive service provision for refugees including more systematic screening, assessment and treatment of SGBV and torture physical and emotional injuries combined with implementation of livelihoods and social enterprises. Social implications The research demonstrates that stigma and shame, particularly for male refugee survivors of SGBV and torture, impacts on ability to report these incidents and seek treatment. Increasing gender sensitivity of services to these issues, alongside provision of medical treatment for injuries, alongside improved informal justice processes, may assist to counteract shame and increase disclosure. Originality/value There is currently a lack of empirical investigation of this subject area, therefore this research makes a contribution to the subject of understanding refugees’ experiences of SGBV and torture, as well as their perceptions of service provision and response. This subject is strategically important due to the pressing need to develop integrated, gendered and culturally sensitive services that listen to the voices and draw on the expertise of refugees themselves while using their skills to inform improvements in service responses and policy.

Efficiency of Intervention Counseling Program on the Enhanced Psychological Well-being and Reduced Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Among Syrian Women Refugee Survivors.

Background:The number of individuals displaced from their original countries due to civil wars, hunger, disasters, and international wars is increasing worldwide day by day. These refugees are more vulnerable to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).Objective:The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of the intervention program in improving the well-being and reducing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among a sample of Syrian refugee women in Jordan who had been displaced due to civil wars in Syria.Methods:The study recruited 40 Syrian refugee females in Jordan who were psychologically challenged, with high PTSD symptoms (assessed by PCL) and a psychological well-being impairment (assessed by PWD). The culture of Jordanian society discriminates and affects the Syrian refugee women, rendering them vulnerable to PTSD. Quasi-experimental design was used, wherein the participants were randomly distributed in experimental and control groups (n=20/group). The control group members did not receive any services related to psychological support or psychiatric medications, while the experimental group underwent a counseling program.Results:The present study demonstrated that the intervention program improves the well-being and reduces PTSD among the Syrian refugee women who constituted the experimental group. The intervention program and the PTSD manifestation were not affected by age. The present study recommended that the program be applied to the refugees in Jordan to improve the well-being of the women in the residential areas.Conclusion:Furthermore, an intervention on the Jordanian cultural impact on the refugee camps was also essential if the condition for the female refugees worsened. Lastly, the effect of Jordanian culture on Syrian refugees should be investigated since the literature presented a negative impact.