Alemi Q, Stempel C (2018) Discrimination and distress among Afghan refugees in northern California: The moderating role of pre- and post-migration factors. PLoS ONE 13(5): e0196822. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0196822
Alemi Q, Stempel C (2018) Discrimination and distress among Afghan refugees in northern California: The moderating role of pre- and post-migration factors. PLoS ONE 13(5): e0196822. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0196822
Alemi Q, Stempel C (2018) Discrimination and distress among Afghan refugees in northern California: The moderating role of pre- and post-migration factors. PLoS ONE 13(5): e0196822. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0196822
Alemi Q, Stempel C (2018) Discrimination and distress among Afghan refugees in northern California: The moderating role of pre- and post-migration factors. PLoS ONE 13(5): e0196822. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0196822
Abstract
This study investigates the effect of perceived discrimination on the mental health of Afghan refugees, and secondly, tests the distress moderating effects of pre-migration traumatic experiences and post-resettlement adjustment factors. In a cross-sectional design, 259 Afghans completed surveys assessing perceived discrimination and a number of other factors using scales developed through inductive techniques. Multivariate analyses consisted of a series of hierarchical regressions testing the effect of perceived discrimination on distress, followed by a sequential analysis of moderator variables. Perceived discrimination was significantly associated with higher distress, and this relationship was stronger among those with a strong intra-ethnic identity, high civic engagement, and high pre-resettlement traumatic experiences. Discrimination is a significant source of stress for Afghan refugees, which may exacerbate stresses associated with other post-migration stressors. Future research is needed to tailor interventions that can help mitigate the stress associated with discrimination among this highly vulnerable group.
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
