Post-traumatic stress symptoms and variables related to post-traumatic growth among Syrian refugees

The Syrian War has caused to a mass migration of Syrians to other countries and exposed them many possible traumatic events and stressors in their countries of origin, during migration and during resettlement. The possibility of positive psyhological effect of adverse life events is less documented among Syrian refugees. The aim of this paper is to develop a statistical model identifying factors that are associated with post traumatic growth (PTG) of Syrian refugees residing in Turkey. These factors include multiple traumatic events, post-migration difficulties (PMLD), post traumatic stress symptoms and coping strategies. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used in the current study to assess the relationship among these factors. Data were obtained from Syrian refugees residing outcome camps in Hatay and Mardin. A total of 528 Syrians, aged between 18-77 years (Mage= 35.60, SD = 11.65), 275 women (%52.1), 249 men (%47.2) participated in a cross-sectional study using five self-report instruments measuring past traumatic events, post-migration stressors, post-traumatic symptoms, coping strategies and post-traumatic growth (LEC-5, PMLD, PCL-5, COPE, PTGI). SEM results indicated that the model fit the data well (RMSEA =.08, CFI = .91, SRMR= .08) and that 33% of the variance in PTG was explained by independent variables. Multiple past traumatic events severity and PMLD was directly related to distress symptoms, not to PTG. Coping strategies was directly related to PTG and the relationship between trauma characteristics and PTG mediated by coping strategies. The statistical model provides support that the relationship between refugees' past multiple traumatic characteristics and PTG appear to be explained through the presence of coping strategies which could be adressed in the psychotherapies and psychosocial interventions for refugees to promote positive psychological change. The model showed that PMLD were not related to PTG or coping strategies which is less documented in refugee literature, thereby future studies should be adressed the effect of post-migration difficulties on PTG in detail.