Contributions of Loss Events to Loss Distress and Trauma Symptoms in Recently Resettled Refugee Women at Risk

ABSTRACT

This research examined contributions of loss events to loss distress and trauma symptoms (accounting for trauma events) for refugee women at risk. Participants (N = 104) responded to the Multidimensional Loss Scale (loss events and distress) and Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (trauma events and symptoms). Loss events contributed uniquely to loss distress (explaining additional 50.8% variance), and made a unique contribution to trauma symptoms (explaining additional 5.2% variance) approximately equal to trauma events. Appropriate response to psychic distress in refugee women at risk requires assessment of both loss and trauma and consideration of cultural differences in ways loss is expressed and meaning ascribed to symptoms.

KEYWORDS:

• Assessment
• loss
• refugees
• trauma
• women at risk

Acknowledgments

This research was funded by an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant. We would like to thank ACCESS Community Services and Multicultural Families Organisation, Louise Farrell, and Vinita Sagar for their valuable contributions in the conduct of this research.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lyn Vromans

Lyn Vromans is a psychologist and research fellow in the School of Psychology and Counseling at the Queensland University of Technology. Her research interests include cross-cultural and refugee loss and mental health and narrative interventions.

Robert D. Schweitzer

Robert D. Schweitzer is professor of psychology at Queensland University of Technology. His research centers upon refugee well-being, psychotherapy process and outcome, and the application of phenomenology in psychological research.

Mark Brough

Mark Brough is a social anthropologist specializing in public health research. His work is predominantly concerned with addressing the health inequalities faced by people from refugee backgrounds and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Ignacio Correa-Velez

Ignacio Correa-Velez is an associate professor at the Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology. His research interests include refugee health, settlement and integration, and mental health.

Kate Murray

Kate Murray is a senior lecturer at the Queensland University of Technology. Her research interests include refugee and immigrant health, acculturation, and the cultural adaptation of evidence-based interventions for diverse populations.

Caroline Lenette

Caroline Lenette is a lecturer in the School of Social Sciences at The University of New South Wales, Australia. She collaborates with resettled refugee women using visual ethnographic methods to convey their experiences of mental health and well-being.