Postmigration stress and sleep disturbances mediate the relationship between trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress symptoms among Syrian and Iraqi refugees.

ABSTRACT:

Study objectives

Sleep disturbance is common in those who experience trauma. In a sample of nontreatment-seeking refugees, we examined the associations between trauma exposure, postmigration stress, sleep symptoms, and posttraumatic psychological symptoms.

Methods

Syrian and Iraqi refugees (n = 86; 51% female; mean age = 45 years) residing in Australia were recruited from the local community. Cross-sectional descriptive design, multinominal regression analyses, and mediation analyses were used. Participants completed measures in Arabic assessing premigration trauma exposure, postmigration stress, sleep symptoms, and mental health. They also completed 7 days of sleep diaries and actigraphy.

Results

We identified 34.9% of the participants as normal sleepers, 32.6% as pr

SUBMITTER: Lies J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7927347 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature