Health Realization Community Coping Intervention for Somali Refugee Women

Year Published:

Abstract

Health Realization (HR) is a strengths-based stress and coping intervention used to promote the use of internal and external coping resources. Our three-arm comparison group trial examined the effects of a culturally adapted Somali HR intervention on coping and mental health outcomes in 65 Somali refugee women post-resettlement. Subjects participated one of three conditions: HR intervention, nutrition attention-control, and evaluation-control. The HR intervention significantly affected multiple dimensions of coping: WAYS-distancing, seeking social support, positive reappraisal; and Refugee Appraisal and Coping Experience Scale-Internal subscale. The HR intervention also demonstrated improvement in depression symptom ratings. We discuss findings from the pilot, challenges encountered conducting a three-arm comparison group trial, and implications for further research involving the HR intervention with culturally diverse refugee communities.

Citation

Relevant Evidence Summaries

The evidence was reviewed and included in the following summaries: 

What is the evidence for strengths-based and trauma-informed approaches?

Two impact and three suggestive studies indicate positive outcomes from strengths-based approaches. Five studies were identified that have examined the outcomes of strengths-based approaches with refugee clients. These studies have addressed diverse outcomes including health, mental health, social support, English proficiency, and cultural and community connections. Strengths-based approaches can take many forms and have shown…

About this study

AGE: Adults

DIRECTION OF EVIDENCE: Positive impact

FULL TEXT AVAILABILITY: Free

HOST COUNTRY: United States

HOST COUNTRY INCOME: High

INTERVENTION DURATION: 8 weeks

INTERVENTION: Strengths-Based Approaches

OUTCOME AREA: Mental Health

REGION OF ORIGIN OF PARTICIPANT(S): Africa

STRENGTH OF EVIDENCE: Suggestive

TYPE OF STUDY: Impact evaluation

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2019

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