Understanding Mental Health Status of Syrian Refugee and Jordanian Women: Novel Insights from a Comparative Study

Fatin Atrooz, Sally Mohammad Aljararwah, Tzuan A. Chen, Omar F. Khabour and Samina Salim ()
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Fatin Atrooz: Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
Sally Mohammad Aljararwah: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
Tzuan A. Chen: Department of Psychological Health and Learning Sciences, College of Education, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
Omar F. Khabour: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
Samina Salim: Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-14

Abstract: (1) Background: War and displacement are well-known predictors of negative mental health outcomes among affected populations. This is especially relevant for refugees of war, particularly women, who often repress their mental health needs due to family responsibilities, social stigma, and/or cultural pressures. In this study, we compared the mental health status of urban Syrian refugee women ( n = 139) with local Jordanian women ( n = 160). (2) Methods: Psychometrically validated Afghan Symptom Checklist (ASC), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Self-Report Questionnaire (SRQ) examined psychological distress, perceived stress, and mental health, respectively. (3) Results: According to independent t -tests, Syrian refugee women scored higher than Jordanian women on the ASC [mean score (SD): 60.79 (16.67) vs. 53.71 (17.80), p < 0.001], PSS [mean score (SD): 31.59 (8.45) vs. 26.94 (7.37), p < 0.001], and SRQ [mean score (SD): 11.82 (4.30) vs. 10.21 (4.72), p = 0.002]. Interestingly, both Syrian refugee and Jordanian women scored higher than the clinical cutoff in the SRQ. Regression analyses indicated that more educated women were less likely to score high on the SRQ (β = −0.143, p = 0.019), particularly in the anxiety and somatic symptoms subscale (β = −0.133, p = 0.021), and were less likely to exhibit symptoms of ruminative sadness (β = −0.138, p = 0.027). Employed women were more likely to exhibit high coping ability than unemployed women (β = 0.144, p = 0.012). (4) Conclusions: Syrian refugee women scored higher than Jordanian women in all used mental health scales. Access to mental health services and enhancing educational opportunities would help mitigate perceived stress and may enhance stress-coping abilities.

Keywords: Syrian refugees; perceived stress; refugee education; refugee mental health; Jordan (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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