The relationship between trauma, shame, and guilt: findings from a community-based study of refugee minors in Germany

Figures & data

Table 1 Descriptive data and statistical differences between both groups

	Accompanied		Unaccompanied
	N	Mean (SD)	N	Mean (SD)	Statistical difference
Age (years)	14	15.64 (2.21)	18	17.4 (0.98)	U=70.5, p=0.024, r=0.40
Percentage with PTSD	14	0% (n=0)	18	50% (n=9)	χ^2 =9.7, p=0.002, ϕ=0.552
PTSD symptom score	14	3.1 (4.80)	18	22.83 (18.44)	U=46, p=0.002, r=0.547
Intrusions	14	1.0 (1.52)	18	6.78 (5.95)	U=50, p=0.003, r=0.525
Avoidance	14	1.29 (2.30)	18	8.78 (7.82)	U=51, p=0.003, r=0.522
Hyperarousal	14	0.86 (1.61)	18	7.28 (5.61)	U=35.5, p<0.001, r=0.630
Global guilt	11	43.64 (7.98)	16	48.56 (14.39)	ns
Total guilt cognitions	11	43.55 (10.58)	16	50.69 (10.61)	U=47.5, p=0.045, r=0.354
Distress	11	43.64 (8.39)	16	61.12 (10.65)	U=15.5, p<0.001, r=0.634
Intensity*duration*frequency of shame	14	9.89 (7.24)	18	16.76 (10.16)	U=65, p=0.020, r=0.41
Intensity of shame	14	2.37 (0.67)	18	2.63 (0.94)	ns
Intensity*duration of shame	14	5.91 (2.67)	18	7.31 (3.24)	ns

PTSD, posttraumatic stress disorder; ns, not significant; SD, standard deviation.

Fig. 1 Scatterplot of the total number of traumatic events and the severity of PTSD symptoms experienced by unaccompanied (UMR) and accompanied (AMR) minor refugees.

Fig. 2 Scatterplot of the total number of traumatic events and global guilt experienced by unaccompanied (UMR) and accompanied (AMR) minor refugees.

Fig. 3 Scatterplot of the total number of traumatic events and intensity*duration*frequency of shame episodes experienced by unaccompanied (UMR) and accompanied (AMR) minor refugees.