| dc.description.abstract | Background: Certain factors predict which acculturation strategy an individual is likely to adopt. It is presumable that certain acculturation strategies could buffer the effect of trauma on mental health. Objective: The aim of the study was to test whether age, length of stay, gender and region of origin could be used as predictors for acculturation strategies. Furthermore, it was tested whether the effect of the number of potentially traumatic events on mental health could be buffered by certain acculturation strategies. Method: Intake data of 252 treatment-seeking refugees were used. The intake data consisted of the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, to measure the number of different potentially traumatic events and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, the Hopkins Symptom Checklist 25, to measure depressive- and anxiety symptoms, and the Language and Cultural Index to estimate which acculturation strategy an individual had adopted. Results: In the sample only individuals who had either integrated or assimilated were found, therefore no conclusions can be drawn regarding marginalisation and separation. Older individuals appeared to be more likely to adopt an integration strategy than younger individuals. There was a significant association between the number of potentially traumatic events and mental health. No significant effect of the acculturation strategies on the relation between the number of potentially traumatic events and mental health was found. Conclusion: Considering the absence of marginalisation and separation, one cannot conclusively state that neither integration, nor assimilation has a buffering effect on the relation between the number of traumatic events and mental health. Further research should be carried out to understand the role of acculturation strategies on the mental health of refugees. | |
