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 st...
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Taylor & Francis Group
2021
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oai:doaj.org-article:a144d55e04a8448b9e0f96fbae56f8c32021-11-11T14:23:42ZA longitudinal study of mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Syrian refugees2000-806610.1080/20008198.2021.1991651https://doaj.org/article/a144d55e04a8448b9e0f96fbae56f8c32021-01-01T00:00:00Zhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1991651https://doaj.org/toc/2000-8066Background 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.Aemal AkhtarAhmad BawanehManar AwwadHadeel Al-HayekMarit SijbrandijPim CuijpersRichard A. BryantTaylor & Francis Grouparticlepandemiccovid-19refugee campsyriamental healthPsychiatryRC435-571ENEuropean Journal of Psychotraumatology, Vol 12, Iss 1 (2021) |
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pandemic covid-19 refugee camp syria mental health Psychiatry RC435-571 |
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pandemic covid-19 refugee camp syria mental health Psychiatry RC435-571 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 |
| 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. |
| format |
article |
| 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 |
| title |
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_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_sort |
longitudinal study of mental health before and during the covid-19 pandemic in syrian refugees |
| publisher |
Taylor & Francis Group |
| publishDate |
2021 |
| url |
https://doaj.org/article/a144d55e04a8448b9e0f96fbae56f8c3 |
| work_keys_str_mv |
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