IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jscscx/v14y2025i2p70-d1579216.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Post-Migration Stress and Mental Health Outcomes: A Comparative Study of Syrian Refugee Women in Houston and Jordan

Author

Listed:
  • Fatin Atrooz

    (Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA)

  • Chiara Acquati

    (Graduate College of Social Work, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA)

  • Arunima Bhattacharjee

    (Graduate College of Social Work, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA)

  • Omar F. Khabour

    (Medical Laboratory Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 2210, Jordan)

  • Sally Aljararwah

    (Medical Laboratory Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 2210, Jordan)

  • Samina Salim

    (Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA)

Abstract

This study aims to examine context-specific post-migration stress factors and their differential impacts on the mental health of Syrian refugee women resettled in Houston, Texas, and urban communities in Jordan. A cross-sectional survey investigated sociodemographic and health-related conditions, psychological distress and coping (Perceived Stress Scale [PSS]), mental health-related symptomatology (Self-Report Questionnaire [SRQ]), conflict-related psychological distress (Afghan Symptom Checklist [ASC]), and post-migration stress (Refugee Post-Migration Stress Scale [RPMS]). Linear regression models examined factors associated with post-migration stress and mental health outcomes. A total of 127 Syrian refugee women participated in the study. Participants were in their mid-30s (mean age = 34.79 ± 11.2 years), married (66.9%), and reported low levels of education (44.8% below high school), low employment (27.2%), and elevated financial strain (91% below the poverty line). Jordan-based refugees exhibited higher scores on mental distress measures compared to their Houston-based counterparts; specifically more elevated psychological distress ( p < 0.001), symptomatology ( p < 0.001), and conflict-related distress ( p < 0.001). Syrian refugee women in Houston reported higher social strain, while those in Jordan experienced greater financial hardship and barriers to accessing healthcare services. Mental distress among Syrian refugee women is influenced by specific post-migration stressors that vary by resettlement location. Targeted interventions are necessary to improve mental health outcomes in this population.

Suggested Citation

  • Fatin Atrooz & Chiara Acquati & Arunima Bhattacharjee & Omar F. Khabour & Sally Aljararwah & Samina Salim, 2025. "Post-Migration Stress and Mental Health Outcomes: A Comparative Study of Syrian Refugee Women in Houston and Jordan," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-16, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:14:y:2025:i:2:p:70-:d:1579216
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/2/70/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/2/70/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Miller, Kenneth E. & Rasmussen, Andrew, 2010. "War exposure, daily stressors, and mental health in conflict and post-conflict settings: Bridging the divide between trauma-focused and psychosocial frameworks," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(1), pages 7-16, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jayawickreme, Nuwan & Mootoo, Candace & Fountain, Christine & Rasmussen, Andrew & Jayawickreme, Eranda & Bertuccio, Rebecca F., 2017. "Post-conflict struggles as networks of problems: A network analysis of trauma, daily stressors and psychological distress among Sri Lankan war survivors," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 119-132.
    2. Kathleen Ford & Aree Jampaklay & Aphichat Chamatrithirong, 2022. "Psychiatric symptoms among migrants to Malaysia from the southernmost provinces of Thailand," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 68(3), pages 533-540, May.
    3. Eggerman, Mark & Panter-Brick, Catherine, 2010. "Suffering, hope, and entrapment: Resilience and cultural values in Afghanistan," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(1), pages 71-83, July.
    4. Jordans, M.J.D. & Tol, W.A. & Komproe, I.H., 2011. "Mental health interventions for children in adversity: Pilot-testing a research strategy for treatment selection in low-income settings," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(3), pages 456-466, August.
    5. Aylin Demirli Yıldız & Dagmar Strohmeier, 2024. "The Role of Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms and Post Migration Life Difficulties for Future Aspirations of Iraqi and Syrian Asylum Seekers," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(2), pages 21582440241, April.
    6. Aarethun, V. & Sandal, G.M. & Guribye, E. & Markova, V. & Bye, H.H., 2021. "Explanatory models and help-seeking for symptoms of PTSD and depression among Syrian refugees," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    7. Nho, Choong Rai & Yoon, Sukyoung & Ko, Juae, 2018. "Voices of refugee children in Korea," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 606-616.
    8. Trani, Jean-François & Cannings, Tim I., 2013. "Child Poverty in an Emergency and Conflict Context: A Multidimensional Profile and an Identification of the Poorest Children in Western Darfur," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 48-70.
    9. Grayman, Jesse Hession, 2014. "Rapid response: Email, immediacy, and medical humanitarianism in Aceh, Indonesia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 334-343.
    10. Piperata, Barbara A. & Schmeer, Kammi K. & Rodrigues, Andres Herrera & Salazar Torres, Virgilio Mariano, 2016. "Food insecurity and maternal mental health in León, Nicaragua: Potential limitations on the moderating role of social support," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 9-17.
    11. Tay, Alvin Kuowei & Rees, Susan & Chan, Jack & Kareth, Moses & Silove, Derrick, 2015. "Examining the broader psychosocial effects of mass conflict on PTSD symptoms and functional impairment amongst West Papuan refugees resettled in Papua New Guinea (PNG)," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 70-78.
    12. Nguyen, Thomas P. & Al Asaad, Mariam & Sena, Michelle & Slewa-Younan, Shameran, 2024. "Loneliness and social isolation amongst refugees resettled in high-income countries: A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 360(C).
    13. Jeanette A. Lawrence & Ida Kaplan & Amy H. Collard, 2019. "Perspectives of Refugee Children Resettling in Australia on Indicators of Their Wellbeing," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 12(3), pages 943-962, June.
    14. Sim, Amanda & Fazel, Mina & Bowes, Lucy & Gardner, Frances, 2018. "Pathways linking war and displacement to parenting and child adjustment: A qualitative study with Syrian refugees in Lebanon," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 19-26.
    15. Dutra, Lauren M. & Williams, David R. & Gupta, Jhumka & Kawachi, Ichiro & Okechukwu, Cassandra A., 2014. "Human rights violations and smoking status among South African adults enrolled in the South Africa Stress and Health (SASH) study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 103-111.
    16. Liamputtong, Pranee & Kurban, Hala, 2018. "Health, social integration and social support: The lived experiences of young Middle-Eastern refugees living in Melbourne, Australia," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 99-106.
    17. Sarah Berens & Sabrina Karim, 2024. "Quotidian crime, wartime violence and public goods preferences: Evidence from Liberia," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 61(4), pages 545-559, July.
    18. Arne H Eide & Karin Dyrstad, 2019. "PTSD as a consequence of past conflict experience, recent exposure to violence and economic marginalization in post-conflict contexts: A study from Nepal, Guatemala and Northern Ireland," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 65(6), pages 488-495, September.
    19. Sangalang, Cindy C. & Jager, Justin & Harachi, Tracy W., 2017. "Effects of maternal traumatic distress on family functioning and child mental health: An examination of Southeast Asian refugee families in the U.S," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 178-186.
    20. Gagnon, Anita J. & Dougherty, Geoffrey & Wahoush, Olive & Saucier, Jean-François & Dennis, Cindy-Lee & Stanger, Elizabeth & Palmer, Becky & Merry, Lisa & Stewart, Donna E., 2013. "International migration to Canada: The post-birth health of mothers and infants by immigration class," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 197-207.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:14:y:2025:i:2:p:70-:d:1579216. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.