Abstract:
The worldwide population of refugees continues to grow, and a significant proportion of
these individuals experience poor physical, psychological, social and occupational
functioning. Empirical research examining specific pre- and post-migrations factors
which predict psychological functioning and help-seeking among refugees is scarce. The
present study will obtain cross-sectional, self-report data from 204 Bosnian refugees
living in the US. Trauma is expected to have a direct positive relationship with
symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and a direct negative
relationship with well-being and help-seeking, and will be controlled in subsequent
analyses. The integration style of acculturation is predicted to lead to the most positive
outcomes, whereas the separation and marginalization strategies are expected to be
positively related to symptoms of depression and PTSD and negatively relates to wellbeing
and help-seeking. Perceived discrimination is expected to be positively related to
symptoms of depression and PTSD and negatively related to well-being and help-seeking.
In addition, connectedness to Bosnian versus US communities will be examined
as an alternative conceptualization of acculturation. Finally, exploratory hypothesis will
examine whether high ethnic identity salience attenuates or strengthens the negative
effects of discrimination on depression and PTSD symptomatology, as well as the
positive effect on well-being.
