Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress in Unaccompanied Young Refugees During Their Flight: A Longitudinal Cross-Country Study (original) (raw)

Background: Unaccompanied young refugees (UYRs) constitute an especially vulnerable population who report high rates of trauma and mental health problems. There is a significant gap in the literature on trauma and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in UYRs who are still on the move and live in precarious circumstances such as refugee camps. This study therefore aimed at investigating pre- and peri-migration trauma of UYRs, longitudinal trajectories of PTSD, and the impact of gender, trauma, and daily stressors on PTSD over time. Methods: This longitudinal, mixed-method, and multi-country study was conducted in various settings (e.g. refugee camps) across nine European countries. A representative and heterogeneous sample of N = 187 UYRs (78.4% male) from 29 different countries was assessed via interviews at 3 time-points during a period of 27 months. Data was analyzed via growth curve modelling.Results: Prevalence rates of traumatic experiences ranged between 29.5-91.9%...

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