Trauma, experiences of sexual violence and mental health in LGBTIQ+ refugees seeking psychosocial support in Germany
Abstract Aims Only little empirical evidence exists on mental health in LGBTIQ+ refugees. In the present study, trauma exposure, experiences of sexual violence and current treatment needs for physical and mental health were investigated in association with symptoms of anxiety, depression, post-traum...
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Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2045796025000216/type/journal_article |
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| author | Yuriy Nesterko Kim Schönenberg Anna Weißig Tatiana Kulbakina Heide Glaesmer |
| author_facet | Yuriy Nesterko Kim Schönenberg Anna Weißig Tatiana Kulbakina Heide Glaesmer |
| author_sort | Yuriy Nesterko |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract
Aims
Only little empirical evidence exists on mental health in LGBTIQ+ refugees. In the present study, trauma exposure, experiences of sexual violence and current treatment needs for physical and mental health were investigated in association with symptoms of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and somatic symptom burden in LGBTIQ+ asylum-seekers resettled in Germany and seeking psychosocial support.
Methods
Data was collected in cooperation with a counselling centre for LGBTIQ+ asylum-seekers between Mai 2018 and March 2024, with a total of 120 completed questionnaires of adult clients. The questionnaire (11 different languages) included sociodemographic and flight-related questions as well as standardized instruments for assessing PTSD (PCL-5), depression (PHQ-9), somatic symptom burden (SSS-8), and anxiety (HSCL-25). Prevalence rates were calculated according to the cut-off scores of each questionnaire. Four logistic regression analyses were conducted to test for potential associations between being screened positive for anxiety, depression, somatic symptom burden or PTSD and the number of traumatic events, experiences of sexual violence as well as current treatment needs for physical and mental health.
Results
The great majority, 74.2% (95% CI: 66–82) of the respondents, screened positive for at least one of the mental disorders investigated, with 45% (95% CI: 36–54) suffering from somatic symptom burden, 44.2% (95% CI: 35–53) from depression, 58.3% (95% CI: 50–67) from PTSD, and 62.5% (95% CI: 54–71) from anxiety; 69.5% participants reported having been exposed to sexual violence. Current treatment needs for physical health problems were reported by 47% and for mental health problems by 56.7%. Participants with experiences of sexual violence were more likely to be screened positive for depression (OR: 6.787, 95% CI: 1.45–31.65) and PTSD (OR: 6.121, 95% CI: 1.34–27.95).
Conclusions
The study provides initial insights on mental health and associated factors in a highly burdened and hard-to-reach population. The findings are important for healthcare systems and political authorities in terms of assuring better protection and healthcare for LGBTIQ+ refugees and asylum-seekers.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-557c2d90ff334a86b3126faf97af060c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-7960 2045-7979 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-557c2d90ff334a86b3126faf97af060c2025-08-20T02:16:29ZengCambridge University PressEpidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences2045-79602045-79792025-01-013410.1017/S2045796025000216Trauma, experiences of sexual violence and mental health in LGBTIQ+ refugees seeking psychosocial support in GermanyYuriy Nesterko0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8296-0958Kim Schönenberg1Anna Weißig2Tatiana Kulbakina3Heide Glaesmer4Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany Department for Clinical Psychological Intervention, Free University Berlin, Berlin, Germany Department for Traumatic Stress and Transcultural Studies, Center ÜBERLEBEN, Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, GermanyQueer Refugees Network, RosaLinde Leipzig e.V., Leipzig, GermanyQueer Refugees Network, RosaLinde Leipzig e.V., Leipzig, GermanyDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, GermanyAbstract Aims Only little empirical evidence exists on mental health in LGBTIQ+ refugees. In the present study, trauma exposure, experiences of sexual violence and current treatment needs for physical and mental health were investigated in association with symptoms of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and somatic symptom burden in LGBTIQ+ asylum-seekers resettled in Germany and seeking psychosocial support. Methods Data was collected in cooperation with a counselling centre for LGBTIQ+ asylum-seekers between Mai 2018 and March 2024, with a total of 120 completed questionnaires of adult clients. The questionnaire (11 different languages) included sociodemographic and flight-related questions as well as standardized instruments for assessing PTSD (PCL-5), depression (PHQ-9), somatic symptom burden (SSS-8), and anxiety (HSCL-25). Prevalence rates were calculated according to the cut-off scores of each questionnaire. Four logistic regression analyses were conducted to test for potential associations between being screened positive for anxiety, depression, somatic symptom burden or PTSD and the number of traumatic events, experiences of sexual violence as well as current treatment needs for physical and mental health. Results The great majority, 74.2% (95% CI: 66–82) of the respondents, screened positive for at least one of the mental disorders investigated, with 45% (95% CI: 36–54) suffering from somatic symptom burden, 44.2% (95% CI: 35–53) from depression, 58.3% (95% CI: 50–67) from PTSD, and 62.5% (95% CI: 54–71) from anxiety; 69.5% participants reported having been exposed to sexual violence. Current treatment needs for physical health problems were reported by 47% and for mental health problems by 56.7%. Participants with experiences of sexual violence were more likely to be screened positive for depression (OR: 6.787, 95% CI: 1.45–31.65) and PTSD (OR: 6.121, 95% CI: 1.34–27.95). Conclusions The study provides initial insights on mental health and associated factors in a highly burdened and hard-to-reach population. The findings are important for healthcare systems and political authorities in terms of assuring better protection and healthcare for LGBTIQ+ refugees and asylum-seekers. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2045796025000216/type/journal_articleasylum-seekersLGBTIQ+refugeesexual violencetrauma |
| spellingShingle | Yuriy Nesterko Kim Schönenberg Anna Weißig Tatiana Kulbakina Heide Glaesmer Trauma, experiences of sexual violence and mental health in LGBTIQ+ refugees seeking psychosocial support in Germany Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences asylum-seekers LGBTIQ+ refugee sexual violence trauma |
| title | Trauma, experiences of sexual violence and mental health in LGBTIQ+ refugees seeking psychosocial support in Germany |
| title_full | Trauma, experiences of sexual violence and mental health in LGBTIQ+ refugees seeking psychosocial support in Germany |
| title_fullStr | Trauma, experiences of sexual violence and mental health in LGBTIQ+ refugees seeking psychosocial support in Germany |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trauma, experiences of sexual violence and mental health in LGBTIQ+ refugees seeking psychosocial support in Germany |
| title_short | Trauma, experiences of sexual violence and mental health in LGBTIQ+ refugees seeking psychosocial support in Germany |
| title_sort | trauma experiences of sexual violence and mental health in lgbtiq refugees seeking psychosocial support in germany |
| topic | asylum-seekers LGBTIQ+ refugee sexual violence trauma |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2045796025000216/type/journal_article |
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