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Trauma-informed psychoeducation for Somali refugee youth in urban Kenya
Effects on PTSD and psychosocial outcomes
Khoury, D., Im, H., Jettner, J., Warsame, A., Isse, M., & Ross, A. (2018). Trauma-informed psychoeducation for Somali refugee youth in urban Kenya: Effects on PTSD and psychosocial outcomes. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma, 11(4), 431-441. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-017-0200-x
The current study developed and implemented a trauma-informed psychoeducation (TIPE) intervention that is culturally relevant to urban Somali refugees in Nairobi, Kenya. A total of 141 Somali refugee youth completed 12 sessions of peer-led TIPE intervention. A series of pre- and post-tests revealed that TIPE made positive impacts on PTSD symptoms and psychosocial factors, with a differential effect observed according to baseline PTSD symptom report. Participants with high baseline PTSD scores (i.e. above clinical threshold) reported a significant decrease in PTSD symptoms and increase in perceived social support. In the meantime, those with no to mild baseline PTSD symptoms showed an increase in self-awareness of trauma responses and thus PTSD symptom report within the range of normalcy. This research supports the effect of a culturally relevant psychoeducation intervention in addressing the high mental health and psychosocial needs of the marginalized urban Somali refugee community in low resource settings.