Trauma and coping in Somali and Oromo refugee youth.
OBJECTIVE
To describe war-related trauma history, immigration factors, problems, and coping of Somali and Oromo refugee youth.


METHODS
Analysis of a subset of participants (N = 338) aged 18-25 years from a population-based survey of Somali and Oromo refugees conducted in 2000-2002. Data included trauma history, life situation, and scales for physical (Cronbach alpha =.69), psychological (alpha =.56), and social problems (alpha =.69). Data were analyzed using Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests.


RESULTS
Average emigration age was 14.8 years, with 4.2 years in transit and 2.0 years in the United States; 60% reported plans to return home to live. Two-thirds (66%) had less than a high school education, 49% had English language problems, 49% were employed (38% female vs. 57% male); 70% were single, with Somali females more likely than Oromo to be partnered and mothers (39% vs. 19%). There were significant ethnicity/gender differences for all problem scales. More females reported feeling alone (24% vs. 61%, p <.001). Youth with symptoms of posttraumatic stress syndrome reported more traumatic events (mean number of events: 28 vs.16). Trauma history was strongly associated with physical, psychological, and social problems. Most frequent strategies to combat sadness were praying (55.3%), sleeping (39.9%), reading (32.3%), and talking to friends (27.8%).


CONCLUSIONS
Many young Somali and Oromo immigrants to the United States experience life problems associated with war trauma and torture, but many others are coping well. The findings suggest a need to develop age-appropriate strategies to promote the health of refugee youth to facilitate their successful adaptation to adult life in the United States.
Halcón
Linda L
LL
School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 55455, USA. halco001@umn.edu
Robertson
Cheryl L
CL
Savik
Kay
K
Johnson
David R
DR
Spring
Marline A
MA
Butcher
James N
JN
Westermeyer
Joseph J
JJ
Jaranson
James M
JM
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D012998:Somalia / Q000208:ethnology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D014104:Torture / Q000523:psychology; D014857:Warfare