Abstract
Assessment of potentially traumatic events and related psychological symptoms in refugee youth is common in epidemiological and intervention research. The objective of this study is to characterize reactions to assessments of trauma exposure and psychological symptoms, including traumatic stress, in refugee youth and their caregivers. Eighty-eight Somali youth and their caregivers participated in a screening and baseline interview for a psychological intervention in three refugee camps in Ethiopia. Participants were asked about their levels of distress prior to, immediately after, and approximately two weeks after completing the interview. Other quantitative and qualitative questions inquired about specific reactions to interview questions and procedures. Children and caregivers became increasingly relaxed over the course of the interview, on average. Few children (5.3%) or caregivers (6.5%) who reported being relaxed at the beginning of the interview became upset by the end of the interview. Some children and caregivers reported that certain assessment questions were upsetting and that feeling upset interfered with their activities. Despite some participants reporting persistent negative reactions, most reported liking and benefitting from the interview. While the majority of refugee youth and their caregivers reported positive experiences associated with completing trauma-related assessments, some reported negative reactions. Researchers and practitioners must consider the necessity, risks, and benefits of including questions about potentially traumatic events and related symptoms that are particularly upsetting in screening, survey research, and clinical assessment. When included, it is important that researchers and practitioners monitor negative reactions to these assessments and connect participants who become distressed with appropriate services.
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Abbreviations
- CBCL:
-
Child Behavior Checklist
- CETA:
-
Common elements treatment approach
- PTE:
-
Potentially traumatic event
- PTSD:
-
Post-traumatic stress disorder
- RRPQ:
-
Reactions to Research Participation Questionnaire
- SD:
-
Standard deviation
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Acknowledgements
This study was funded by a Grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. MCG was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (T32MH096724).
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All procedures underwent ethical review and approval was provided by the Agency for Refugee and Returnee Affairs. All participants gave their informed consent prior to inclusion in the study.
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Greene, M.C., Kane, J.C., Bolton, P. et al. Assessing trauma and related distress in refugee youth and their caregivers: should we be concerned about iatrogenic effects?. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 30, 1437–1447 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-020-01635-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-020-01635-z