Types of traumatic experiences and cultural values associated with posttraumatic stress in recently immigrated asylum-seekers from Central America.

Abstract

Asylum-seeking immigrants from Central America experience high prevalence rates of traumatic experiences and posttraumatic stress (PTS). Nonetheless, it is unknown how each type of trauma correlates uniquely to PTS variance and how cultural values may uniquely lower PTS. The present study hypothesized that, after controlling for demographics, (1) general trauma/natural disasters would be the strongest trauma-type correlates to PTS, and (2) religiosity, familismo-support, and self-efficacy would be negatively correlated to PTS. As part of a larger international study, n = 103 participants were sampled at the Texas-Mexico border. Participants were administered a series of mental health and cultural-values screeners in Spanish. A multiple hierarchical regression analysis revealed a significant model predicting PTS, with general exposure to natural disasters as the strongest correlate to PTS. Moreover, familismo-support, but not self-efficacy, significantly correlated with lower PTS scores. Finally, contrary to the hypothesized direction, religiosity was positively correlated to PTS. In this sample of Central American asylum-seekers, religiosity was correlated with higher PTS, aligning with negative religious coping models. Familismo-support was the only association to lower PTS scores. Clinical implications and future directions relevant to culturally responsive interventions and psychological assessments are discussed.