Sex differences in trauma exposure and symptomatology in trauma-affected refugees
Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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Sex differences in trauma exposure and symptomatology in trauma-affected refugees. / Mundy, Sara Skriver; Foss, Sara Louise Wilms; Poulsen, Stig Bernt; Hjorthøj, Carsten; Carlsson, Jessica.
I: Psychiatry Research, Bind 293, 113445, 2020.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Sex differences in trauma exposure and symptomatology in trauma-affected refugees
AU - Mundy, Sara Skriver
AU - Foss, Sara Louise Wilms
AU - Poulsen, Stig Bernt
AU - Hjorthøj, Carsten
AU - Carlsson, Jessica
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine associations between sex, exposure to potentially traumatic events and pre-treatment symptomatology in trauma-affected refugees. We analyzed pre-treatment self-report questionnaires and clinical interviews from 318 refugees with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a specialized mental health clinic. Results show that twice as many females reported exposure to family violence (p = .001) and sexual abuse (p = .004), whereas men were at least three times as likely to report exposure to torture (p <0.001), imprisonment (p < .001), and combat (p < .001). Men reported exposure to more trauma types (p < .001). Women reported more depression (p = .001), anxiety (p = .008) and somatization (p = 0.001), whereas men were diagnosed significantly more with enduring personality change after catastrophic experience (p < .001). Additionally, trauma burden was significantly associated with PTSD (p = .001) and depression (p = .039) scores for women but not men, and imprisonment was associated with a higher PTSD score in women (p = 0.037) but not men. Our findings highlight sex differences in trauma exposure and symptomatology in trauma-affected refugees in host countries, that should be considered when developing mental health interventions for this underserved population.
AB - The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine associations between sex, exposure to potentially traumatic events and pre-treatment symptomatology in trauma-affected refugees. We analyzed pre-treatment self-report questionnaires and clinical interviews from 318 refugees with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a specialized mental health clinic. Results show that twice as many females reported exposure to family violence (p = .001) and sexual abuse (p = .004), whereas men were at least three times as likely to report exposure to torture (p <0.001), imprisonment (p < .001), and combat (p < .001). Men reported exposure to more trauma types (p < .001). Women reported more depression (p = .001), anxiety (p = .008) and somatization (p = 0.001), whereas men were diagnosed significantly more with enduring personality change after catastrophic experience (p < .001). Additionally, trauma burden was significantly associated with PTSD (p = .001) and depression (p = .039) scores for women but not men, and imprisonment was associated with a higher PTSD score in women (p = 0.037) but not men. Our findings highlight sex differences in trauma exposure and symptomatology in trauma-affected refugees in host countries, that should be considered when developing mental health interventions for this underserved population.
KW - Disaster psychiatry
KW - Gender-based violence
KW - Posttraumatic stress disorder
U2 - 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113445
DO - 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113445
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 32977049
AN - SCOPUS:85091235665
VL - 293
JO - Psychiatry Research
JF - Psychiatry Research
SN - 0165-1781
M1 - 113445
ER -
ID: 250214616