Prevalence of vicarious trauma, depression, anxiety, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and resilience among the Tigrayan diaspora in Australia: A cross-sectional study following the Tigray conflict.

Journal: Journal of affective disorders

Volume: 370

Issue: 

Year of Publication: 

Affiliated Institutions:  Research Centre for Public Health, Equity and Human Flourishing, Torrens University Australia, Adelaide, SA , Australia; School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Tigray Health Research Institute (THRI), Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia. Electronic address: hailushepi@gmail.com. Lifelong Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, SA, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia. Research Centre for Public Health, Equity and Human Flourishing, Torrens University Australia, Adelaide, SA , Australia. Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University. Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia. School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia; School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. Tigray Health Research Institute (THRI), Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia; School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. UQ Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Tigray Health Research Institute (THRI), Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia; Institute for Health Transformation, Melbourne Australia, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia. Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia; School of Public Health, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia. Health and Medical Sciences, Adelaide Nursing School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia. School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia. Australian National University, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australia.

Abstract summary 

Ethiopia's Tigray in 2020. This war has had a detrimental impact on the mental health and overall wellbeing of Tigrayans living in other countries and abroad. The present study investigated the state of mental health and wellbeing among Tigrayan diaspora living in Australia, many of whom are migrants, but most are refugees.We employed a cross-sectional survey gathered through Qualtrics-designed hybrid data collection techniques. We assessed vicarious trauma using the secondary traumatic stress scale (STSS), depression, anxiety, and stress using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), PTSD using PTSD Checklist- Civilian Version (PCLC), and resilience using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10). We calculated the psychometric properties of these tools among the population. We employed binary logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with the outcomes of interest.241 people participated in the survey. Intrusion symptoms of vicarious trauma were prevalent among 85.6 % (172/201) of participants, avoidance symptoms of vicarious trauma among 87.6 % (176/201) of participants, and arousal vicarious trauma among 83.6 % (168/201) of participants. Extremely severe depression was prevalent among 38.2 % (81/212) of participants, extremely severe anxiety among 47.6 % (101/212) of participants, and extremely severe stress among (26.9 % (57/212) of participants. PTSD symptoms were prevalent among 75 % (151/204) of participants. Resilience was reduced among 67.5 % (135/200) of participants.The study implies that conflict occurring in one's home country can have a profound impact on the mental wellbeing of individuals residing abroad.

Authors & Co-authors:  Gesesew Hailay Abrha HA Tesfamicael Kiflu Gebremicael KG Mwanri Lillian L Atey Tesfay Mehari TM Gebremedhin Amanuel A Gebremariam Kidane K Tesema Azeb Gebresilassie AG Hailu Semira S Tesfay Fisaha Haile FH Miruts Kalayu K Musker Michael M Tekle Dejen D Woldegiorgis Mulu M Ward Paul P

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations : 
Authors :  14
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1016/j.jad.2024.10.075
SSN : 1573-2517
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Other Terms
Anxiety;Depression;PTSD;Resilience;Secondary traumatic stress;Stress;Tigray conflict;Tigrayan diaspora;Vicarious trauma
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Ethiopia
Publication Country
Netherlands