Association of postmigration stressors and intolerance of uncertainty to posttraumatic stress disorder in asylum seekers: the moderating role of environmental sensitivity
IntroductionAsylum seekers are frequently exposed to severe pre- and postmigration stressors that place them at elevated risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While much is known about trauma exposure, less research has examined how individual differences in environmental sensitivity—define...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1441946/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850068625531076608 |
|---|---|
| author | Ughetta Moscardino Chiara Ceccon Libera Ylenia Mastromatteo Sara Scrimin Francesca Lionetti Francesca Lionetti Michael Pluess |
| author_facet | Ughetta Moscardino Chiara Ceccon Libera Ylenia Mastromatteo Sara Scrimin Francesca Lionetti Francesca Lionetti Michael Pluess |
| author_sort | Ughetta Moscardino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionAsylum seekers are frequently exposed to severe pre- and postmigration stressors that place them at elevated risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While much is known about trauma exposure, less research has examined how individual differences in environmental sensitivity—defined as heightened responsiveness to contextual influences—shape mental health outcomes in this population. This study explores how postmigration living difficulties and intolerance of uncertainty relate to specific PTSD symptom clusters, and whether environmental sensitivity moderates these associations.MethodsParticipants were 157 male asylum seekers (Mage = 26.3 yrs, SD = 6.05) mostly originating from West Africa (89%) and hosted in second-line facilities in Northeastern Italy. Asylum seekers were individually interviewed by trained researchers using questionnaires on postmigration living difficulties, intolerance of uncertainty, environmental sensitivity, and posttraumatic stress symptoms.ResultsCommonly reported stressors were lack of work (83%), family separation (77%), fear of deportation (72%), and delays in asylum processing (69%). Overall, 41% of participants exceeded the clinical cutoff for PTSD. Bivariate analyses indicated that postmigration stressors and intolerance of uncertainty were both associated with greater negative cognitions/affect and hyperarousal; postmigration stressors were also related to increased intrusion. In regression models, environmental sensitivity moderated these effects: among individuals facing high postmigration stressors, those low in sensitivity reported fewer avoidance symptoms. Conversely, among individuals with high intolerance of uncertainty, those with average or high sensitivity reported more negative cognitions/affect than their less sensitive peers.DiscussionPostmigration stressors and uncertainty contribute uniquely to PTSD symptomatology among asylum seekers, with environmental sensitivity shaping how these risk factors manifest. Environmental sensitivity-informed interventions (e.g., emotion regulation support for highly sensitive individuals) and policies aimed at reducing uncertainty and structural barriers could help buffer psychological distress in this vulnerable population. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5ba6a09be9c646efa2cc1a888a31fa1a |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-5ba6a09be9c646efa2cc1a888a31fa1a2025-08-20T02:48:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-07-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.14419461441946Association of postmigration stressors and intolerance of uncertainty to posttraumatic stress disorder in asylum seekers: the moderating role of environmental sensitivityUghetta Moscardino0Chiara Ceccon1Libera Ylenia Mastromatteo2Sara Scrimin3Francesca Lionetti4Francesca Lionetti5Michael Pluess6Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova, Padua, ItalyDepartment of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova, Padua, ItalyDepartment of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova, Padua, ItalyDepartment of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova, Padua, ItalyDepartment of Biological and Experimental Psychology, Queen Mary University of London, London, United KingdomDepartment of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, ItalySchool of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United KingdomIntroductionAsylum seekers are frequently exposed to severe pre- and postmigration stressors that place them at elevated risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While much is known about trauma exposure, less research has examined how individual differences in environmental sensitivity—defined as heightened responsiveness to contextual influences—shape mental health outcomes in this population. This study explores how postmigration living difficulties and intolerance of uncertainty relate to specific PTSD symptom clusters, and whether environmental sensitivity moderates these associations.MethodsParticipants were 157 male asylum seekers (Mage = 26.3 yrs, SD = 6.05) mostly originating from West Africa (89%) and hosted in second-line facilities in Northeastern Italy. Asylum seekers were individually interviewed by trained researchers using questionnaires on postmigration living difficulties, intolerance of uncertainty, environmental sensitivity, and posttraumatic stress symptoms.ResultsCommonly reported stressors were lack of work (83%), family separation (77%), fear of deportation (72%), and delays in asylum processing (69%). Overall, 41% of participants exceeded the clinical cutoff for PTSD. Bivariate analyses indicated that postmigration stressors and intolerance of uncertainty were both associated with greater negative cognitions/affect and hyperarousal; postmigration stressors were also related to increased intrusion. In regression models, environmental sensitivity moderated these effects: among individuals facing high postmigration stressors, those low in sensitivity reported fewer avoidance symptoms. Conversely, among individuals with high intolerance of uncertainty, those with average or high sensitivity reported more negative cognitions/affect than their less sensitive peers.DiscussionPostmigration stressors and uncertainty contribute uniquely to PTSD symptomatology among asylum seekers, with environmental sensitivity shaping how these risk factors manifest. Environmental sensitivity-informed interventions (e.g., emotion regulation support for highly sensitive individuals) and policies aimed at reducing uncertainty and structural barriers could help buffer psychological distress in this vulnerable population.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1441946/fullenvironmental sensitivitysensory processing sensitivitypostmigration living difficultiesintolerance of uncertaintyposttraumatic stress disorderasylum seekers |
| spellingShingle | Ughetta Moscardino Chiara Ceccon Libera Ylenia Mastromatteo Sara Scrimin Francesca Lionetti Francesca Lionetti Michael Pluess Association of postmigration stressors and intolerance of uncertainty to posttraumatic stress disorder in asylum seekers: the moderating role of environmental sensitivity Frontiers in Psychology environmental sensitivity sensory processing sensitivity postmigration living difficulties intolerance of uncertainty posttraumatic stress disorder asylum seekers |
| title | Association of postmigration stressors and intolerance of uncertainty to posttraumatic stress disorder in asylum seekers: the moderating role of environmental sensitivity |
| title_full | Association of postmigration stressors and intolerance of uncertainty to posttraumatic stress disorder in asylum seekers: the moderating role of environmental sensitivity |
| title_fullStr | Association of postmigration stressors and intolerance of uncertainty to posttraumatic stress disorder in asylum seekers: the moderating role of environmental sensitivity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association of postmigration stressors and intolerance of uncertainty to posttraumatic stress disorder in asylum seekers: the moderating role of environmental sensitivity |
| title_short | Association of postmigration stressors and intolerance of uncertainty to posttraumatic stress disorder in asylum seekers: the moderating role of environmental sensitivity |
| title_sort | association of postmigration stressors and intolerance of uncertainty to posttraumatic stress disorder in asylum seekers the moderating role of environmental sensitivity |
| topic | environmental sensitivity sensory processing sensitivity postmigration living difficulties intolerance of uncertainty posttraumatic stress disorder asylum seekers |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1441946/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ughettamoscardino associationofpostmigrationstressorsandintoleranceofuncertaintytoposttraumaticstressdisorderinasylumseekersthemoderatingroleofenvironmentalsensitivity AT chiaraceccon associationofpostmigrationstressorsandintoleranceofuncertaintytoposttraumaticstressdisorderinasylumseekersthemoderatingroleofenvironmentalsensitivity AT liberayleniamastromatteo associationofpostmigrationstressorsandintoleranceofuncertaintytoposttraumaticstressdisorderinasylumseekersthemoderatingroleofenvironmentalsensitivity AT sarascrimin associationofpostmigrationstressorsandintoleranceofuncertaintytoposttraumaticstressdisorderinasylumseekersthemoderatingroleofenvironmentalsensitivity AT francescalionetti associationofpostmigrationstressorsandintoleranceofuncertaintytoposttraumaticstressdisorderinasylumseekersthemoderatingroleofenvironmentalsensitivity AT francescalionetti associationofpostmigrationstressorsandintoleranceofuncertaintytoposttraumaticstressdisorderinasylumseekersthemoderatingroleofenvironmentalsensitivity AT michaelpluess associationofpostmigrationstressorsandintoleranceofuncertaintytoposttraumaticstressdisorderinasylumseekersthemoderatingroleofenvironmentalsensitivity |