No description available.

No description available.

There is an absence of research on the process of identity formation and the related sense of social belonging for adolescent social orphans, that is, those youth who live outside parental care despite the presence of at least one living biological parent. In addition, scant attention has been paid to how culture norms influence the experience of ambiguous loss. Yet this population of children is vast; UNICEF (2012) estimates a total of 151 million orphans worldwide of which at least 8 million languish in institutions (RELAF, 2010). Due to complex social conditions, approximately 40,000 children over the age of seven are under the protection of the Colombian government and of this number, 25,000 reside in institutions (RELAF, 2010). Informed by ambiguous loss and attachment theories, this qualitative study's primary aims were to: (1) understand how parental loss influences the social orphan's social construction of biological as well as psychological family; (2) make explicit the role of adult identity agents who participate in the process of the youth's identity formation; and (3) identify how these youth transitioning to adulthood perceive their futures. The data are derived from two in-depth interviews conducted in Spanish with thirty social orphans aged 14 and 19 residing in two Colombian institutions. Results revealed that, despite having histories of abuse, neglect and/or extreme hardship, the absent birth family is psychologically present for the majority of these youth and their future goals include reunification as well as economic support for biological family members. Findings also suggested that those youth who are able to identify available adults who possess the attributes of an identity agent, and can draw upon the emotional and instrumental resources they offer, are better able to navigate the process of identity formation and imagine futures that are replete with hope and success. From a practice perspective, the study's findings offer insights into strategies for the development of culturally informed models of clinical engagement with adolescent social orphans to improve post-institutional outcomes for those youth for whom the world, without the benefit of parental support, is fraught with challenges and increased risk for social disconnection.

Diese Dissertation befasst sich mit psychischer Gesundheit und Bewältigungsstrategien von Menschen mit Fluchterfahrung aus Syrien. Primäres Forschungsziel dieser Dissertation stellte die Untersuchung des Beitrags von soziodemographischen, kriegs- und fluchtbedingten sowie postmigrationsbedingten Faktoren auf die psychische Gesundheit bei syrischen Geflüchteten mit posttraumatischem Stress in Deutschland dar. Darüber hinaus wurden Prädiktoren für psychische Belastung nach ambigem Verlust identifiziert und das Wissens zu Perspektiven syrischer Geflüchteter in Hinblick auf psychische Gesundheit und Bewältigungsstrategien gefördert. Die in der vorliegenden Dissertation ausgewerteten Daten stammen aus dem Projekt 'Help@App: Entwicklung und Evaluation einer Selbsthilfe-App für traumatisierte syrische Flüchtlinge in Deutschland' (SANADAK-Studie; N=133). Auf Basis der vorliegenden Ergebnisse dieser Dissertation werden notwendige Maßnahmen auf politischer, institutioneller und individueller Ebene diskutiert und die Diskrepanz zwischen psychischer Belastung und der (psychosozialen) Versorgungssituation syrischer Geflüchteter in Deutschland hervorgehoben.:1 Introduction 1.1 The humanitarian crisis in Syria 1.2 Mental distress in Syrian refugees 1.3 Predictors of mental distress 1.3.1 Flight-independent factors 1.3.2 War- and flight-related factors 1.3.3 Post-migration factors 1.3.4 Loss and ambiguous loss 1.4 Resilience and coping among refugees 2 Structure and aims of the dissertation 2.1 Research aim 1: Predictors of mental distress in traumatized refugees 2.2 Research aim 2: Predictors of mental distress in refugees experiencing ambiguous loss 2.3 Research aim 3: Refugees’ perspectives on mental health and coping strategies 3 Data sources 4 Publications 5 Discussion 5.1 Central findings of included studies 5.1.1 Research aim 1 5.1.2 Research aim 2 5.1.3 Research aim 3 5.2 Limitations 5.3 Implications 5.3.1 Policy and healthcare level 5.3.2 Institutional and organizational level 5.3.3 Individual level 5.4 Further Research 6 Summary 7 Bibliography 8 Appendix 8.1 Spezifizierung des eigenen wissenschaftlichen Beitrags 8.1.1 Publikation 1 8.1.2 Publikation 2 8.1.3 Publikation 3 8.2 Erklärung über die eigenständige Abfassung der Arbeit 8.4 Publikationsliste 8.4.1 Peer-reviewed 8.4.2 Kongressbeiträge 8.5 Danksagung / This dissertation focuses on the mental health and coping strategies of people with refugee experience from Syria. The primary research objectives of this dissertation were to investigate the contribution of socio-demographic, war-related, flight-related, and post-migration factors on mental health among Syrian refugees with post-traumatic stress in Germany. In addition, predictors of mental distress after ambiguous loss were identified and knowledge of Syrian refugees' perspectives on mental health and coping strategies was promoted. The data analyzed in this dissertation comes from the project 'Help@App: Development and evaluation of a self-help app for traumatized Syrian refugees in Germany' (SANADAK study; N=133). Based on the results of this dissertation, necessary measures at the political, institutional, and individual level are discussed, and the discrepancy between psychological distress and the (psychosocial) care situation of Syrian refugees in Germany is highlighted.:1 Introduction 1.1 The humanitarian crisis in Syria 1.2 Mental distress in Syrian refugees 1.3 Predictors of mental distress 1.3.1 Flight-independent factors 1.3.2 War- and flight-related factors 1.3.3 Post-migration factors 1.3.4 Loss and ambiguous loss 1.4 Resilience and coping among refugees 2 Structure and aims of the dissertation 2.1 Research aim 1: Predictors of mental distress in traumatized refugees 2.2 Research aim 2: Predictors of mental distress in refugees experiencing ambiguous loss 2.3 Research aim 3: Refugees’ perspectives on mental health and coping strategies 3 Data sources 4 Publications 5 Discussion 5.1 Central findings of included studies 5.1.1 Research aim 1 5.1.2 Research aim 2 5.1.3 Research aim 3 5.2 Limitations 5.3 Implications 5.3.1 Policy and healthcare level 5.3.2 Institutional and organizational level 5.3.3 Individual level 5.4 Further Research 6 Summary 7 Bibliography 8 Appendix 8.1 Spezifizierung des eigenen wissenschaftlichen Beitrags 8.1.1 Publikation 1 8.1.2 Publikation 2 8.1.3 Publikation 3 8.2 Erklärung über die eigenständige Abfassung der Arbeit 8.4 Publikationsliste 8.4.1 Peer-reviewed 8.4.2 Kongressbeiträge 8.5 Danksagung

No description available.

Doctor of Education / Department of Educational Leadership / Trudy Salsberry / The purpose of this study was to gain better insight into the perceptions of mothers, caregivers, and school-age children in regard to educational experiences (defined as social, academic, and behavioral by Kansas Department of Education, 2012) during maternal Army Reserve component deployments. Since the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center, reserve component deployments have become an integral part of the total military strategy. Because the reserve component could be trained and equipped for a fraction of the active forces, fiscal realities dictated moving routine operational responsibilities to the reserve component (National Guard and Reserve Equipment Report for 2013, 2012). As more citizen soldiers were called to active duty deployments, the effects on children who did not typically identify with being in a military family were particularly important to their well-being. This qualitative case study looked at perceptions regarding maternal reserve component deployments through the theoretical perspective lens of ambiguous loss and boundary ambiguity. “Ambiguous Loss Theory” was a type of family stress termed by Boss (1999) that identified the loss or absence of a family member or loved one that evoked emotional uncertainty and ambiguity in the family (p. 7). “Boundary Ambiguity” was how the family interpreted or perceived the situation of ambiguous loss (Boss, 2002). Research applying Boss’ Ambiguous Loss Theory showed that deployment of a family member in a military family was a major stress factor for military children and caused emotional uncertainty and ambiguity in the family (Faber, Willerton, Clymber, Macdermid, & Weiss, 2008; Huebner, Mancini, Wilcox, Grass & Grass, 2007). As mothers were still recognized as the primary caregivers of children in the United States (Galinsky, Aumann, & Bond, 2011), the absence of a mother due to deployment significantly shifted responsibilities not only to the new primary caregiver, but children also took on new responsibilities as well. Role ambiguity began prior to the deployment, continued during the deployment, and could have the most overwhelming effects post-deployment as family members reintegrated the deployed parent back into the family (Huebner et. al, 2007). Utilizing a qualitative multiple case study, the research was conducted from a social constructivist worldview. Criterion sampling was used to garner four total cases for the study Data from both interviews and documents were collected. The purpose of this study was to gain better insight into the perceptions of mothers/soldiers, caregivers, and school-age children regarding their roles in the educational experiences (defined as social, academic, and behavioral by Kansas Department of Education, 2012) during maternal Army Reserve component deployments. Based on the data, six themes emerged that addressed the overarching research questions of this study: • When deployed mothers/soldiers did not maintain a role in the child’s educational experiences, families perceived role definitions as difficult to establish. • Communication during deployment was a key factor in establishing roles of mother/soldier, child, and caregiver. • Clearly defined roles in educational experiences of the child were a key factor in reintegration. • Schools were perceived as a resource to families experiencing deployment. • Children perceived their roles as maintaining or improving their educational experiences as ways to support mother/soldier during deployment. • When roles in children’s educational experiences were not clearly defined, children perceived stress.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:38:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ana Cristina Costa Figueiredo.pdf: 821603 bytes, checksum: 7b78919225430e5379784d86da503e29 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-11-22 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Infidelity refers to any form of romantic and/or sexual involvement, for a short or a long period, which occurs while the individual is in a relationship with another person. It has several impacts, especially regarding the losses about what was expected for self, partner and relationship. Marital infidelity can be understand as an ambiguous loss, since even with the presence of the unfaithful partner, he is not seen in the same way, and changes occur in his role within the family. Since it involves ambivalence, it can result in disfranchised grief, a risk factor for complicated grief. Therefore, the aim of this study was to understand the experience of women who faced the infidelity of their spouses, and identify the losses involved in this process. Case studies were conducted with four straight women who discovered the infidelity of spouse or it was revealed. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed qualitatively based on theories that refer to marital relationships and grief. With the analysis of the cases, it was possible to realize that marital infidelity actually result in multiple losses. However, it may have positive aspects such as creativity and maturity, propelling changes. It was noticeable that all participants, somehow, value romantic love. On the other hand, historical influences regarding the naturalization of male sexual behavior are present in their speech. The inherent risks of disfranchised and self-disfranchised grief were confirmed, which may difficult the integration process of elaboration. The understanding of marital infidelity as ambiguous loss and disfranchised grief can help to validate this experience socially and intrapsychically, contributing to build a society that recognizes the mourning in its different manifestations. The results reaffirm the losses involved in the experience of women in the face of marital infidelity, and suggest the need for new empirical studies related to this subject / A infidelidade refere-se a qualquer forma de envolvimento romântico e/ou sexual, de curto ou longo período, que ocorre enquanto o indivíduo está em um relacionamento com outra pessoa. Seus impactos são diversos, especialmente no que se refere às perdas do que se esperava para si, o parceiro e o relacionamento. Pode-se compreender a infidelidade conjugal como uma perda ambígua, dado que mesmo com a presença do parceiro infiel, este não é visto da mesma maneira, ocorrendo mudanças em seu papel na família. Por envolver ambivalência, pode gerar luto não reconhecido, um fator de risco para o luto complicado. Diante disso, o objetivo do presente foi compreender a experiência de mulheres que vivenciaram a infidelidade de seus cônjuges e identificar as perdas envolvidas nesse processo. Foram realizados estudos de caso com quatro mulheres heterossexuais que tenham descoberto ou tenha sido revelada a infidelidade do cônjuge. As informações foram coletadas por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas e analisadas qualitativamente com base nas teorias que se referem a relacionamento conjugal e luto. Com a análise dos casos, foi possível perceber que a infidelidade conjugal realmente acarreta perdas múltiplas. Todavia, pode apresentar aspectos positivos, como criatividade e amadurecimento, sendo propulsora de mudanças. Foi perceptível que todas as participantes, de alguma forma, valorizam o amor romântico. Por outro lado, influências históricas no que se refere à naturalização do comportamento sexual masculino estão presentes em seus discursos. Foram confirmados os riscos inerentes ao não reconhecimento social ou intrapsíquico das perdas, o que pode dificultar o processo integrativo de elaboração. A compreensão da infidelidade conjugal como perda ambígua e luto não reconhecido pode auxiliar na validação social e intrapsíquica dessa vivência, contribuindo para a construção de uma sociedade que reconhece o luto em suas diferentes manifestações. Os resultados reafirmam as perdas envolvidas na vivência de mulheres diante da infidelidade conjugal e sugerem a necessidade de novos estudos empíricos referentes a esta temática

Refugees from war zones often have missing significant others. A loss without confirmation is described as an ambiguous loss. This physical absence with simultaneous mental persistence can be accompanied by economic, social or legal problems, boundary ambiguity (i.e., uncertainty about who belongs to the family system), and can have a negative impact on mental health. The aim of this study was to identify sociodemographic and loss-related predictors for prolonged grief, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and somatization in treatment-seeking Syrian refugees with post-traumatic stress symptoms in Germany experiencing ambiguous loss. For the present study, data were based on the treatment-seeking baseline sample of the “Sanadak” randomized-controlled trial, analyzing a subsample of 47 Syrian refugees with post-traumatic stress symptoms in Germany experiencing ambiguous loss. Sociodemographic and loss-related questions were applied, along with standardized instruments for symptoms of prolonged grief (ICG), anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), PTSD (PDS-5) and somatization (PHQ-15). Linear regression models were used to predict mental health outcomes. Having lost a close family member and higher boundary ambiguity showed a statistically significant association with higher severity in prolonged grief. The overall model for somatization reached statistical significance, while no predictor independently did. Boundary ambiguity showed a statistically significant positive association with depression, while the overall model showed no statistically significant associations. Boundary ambiguity and missing family members seemed to be important predictors for prolonged grief. These findings support the importance of reunification programs and suggest an inclusion of the topic into psychosocial support structures, e.g., including psychoeducational elements on boundary ambiguity in support groups for traumatized individuals and families experiencing ambiguous loss. Further research is needed for a more detailed understanding of the impact of ambiguous loss on refugee populations.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:46:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 4483.pdf: 1728845 bytes, checksum: c2ced13293493a2f3eda64f53fe69af1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-08-05 / The ambiguous loss is the uncertainty or lack of information about the whereabouts or condition of a loved one. The ambiguity freezes the mourning process and it prevents cognitions, blocking strategy of coping and making-decision process. According to this theory, it can be observed either at the loss in which there is lack of information about a loved one or in the conflicting perception of the family in which members are considered present or absent in the inner circle. Few studies evaluate ambiguous loss in families with autists. The present research aimed: 1.To identify and describe the possible expressions of current feelings of the ambiguous loss in caregivers of children with autism; 2. To verify which coping strategies are more common in these caregivers; 3. To relate possible expressions of ambiguous identity to the measurements of stress and depression in these caregivers, as well as to the degree of severity of the autism. Four caregivers of children with autism aged from six to eight years participated in this study. The caregivers were interviewed on several topics related to the ambiguous loss and they answered instruments about stress, depression, strategy of coping and autism severity of their children. The interview content and the scores of the instruments of the four participants were analyzed. Afterwards, the reports of ambiguous identity with the stress punctuations, depression and autism level were associated. Three children had mild to moderate level and one severe level. All these caregivers presented stress and depression levels, with the prevalence of the coping strategies of social Support, Resolution of problems and Positive Revaluation. After the analysis of the semi-structured interview of ambiguity, it was observed the existence of feelings related to the ambiguous loss in all of these caregivers, with reports on the six categories. Lack of clarity about their child´s diagnosis was prevalent. The results showed the relationship between the increase of the frequency of ambiguous identity with the stress results and the severity of the autism. Based on the identification of experiences of ambiguous loss in these families with autist children, this present research can provide to the professionals further better assistance and a comprehensive and complete supporting to such families. / A perda ambígua é a incerteza ou falta de informação sobre o paradeiro ou condição de um ente querido. A ambigüidade congela o processo de luto e impede cognições, bloqueando processos de enfrentamento e tomada de decisões. Segundo esta teoria, ela pode ser observada tanto na perda em que há falta de informações sobre um ente querido, como na percepção conflituosa da família sobre que membros são considerados como presentes ou ausentes no círculo íntimo. Poucos estudos avaliam perda ambígua em famílias com autistas. Os objetivos deste estudo foram: 1. Identificar e descrever as possíveis expressões de sentimentos decorrentes da perda ambígua em cuidadoras de crianças com autismo; 2. Verificar quais estratégias de coping são mais comuns nestas cuidadoras; 3. Confrontar as possíveis expressões de identidade ambígua às medidas de estresse e depressão nas cuidadoras, bem como ao grau de severidade do autismo. Participaram do estudo quatro cuidadoras de crianças com autismo com a faixa etária entre seis e oito anos de idade. As cuidadoras foram entrevistadas sobre vários tópicos relacionados à perda ambígua e responderam a instrumentos sobre estresse, depressão, enfrentamento e severidade do autismo da criança. Foi realizada a análise de conteúdo de entrevistas e as pontuações dos instrumentos das quatro participantes. A seguir, foram confrontados os relatos de Identidade ambígua com as pontuações de estresse, depressão e nível de autismo. Foram observadas três crianças que se encontravam no nível de leve a moderadamente autista e uma no nível severo. Todas as cuidadoras apresentaram níveis de estresse e depressão, com o predomínio das estratégias de coping de Suporte social, Resolução de problemas e Reavaliação Positiva. Após a análise da entrevista semi estruturada de ambigüidade, verificou-se a existência de sentimentos relacionados à perda ambígua em todas as cuidadoras, com relatos nas seis categorias e predomínio da categoria Falta de clareza sobre o diagnóstico da criança. Os resultados demonstraram a existência da relação entre o aumento da freqüência de Identidade ambígua com os resultados de estresse e a severidade do autismo. Espera-se que a presente pesquisa, ao identificar a vivência de perda ambígua em famílias de criança autista, possa auxiliar os profissionais a oferecerem uma assistência e apoio mais completo e abrangente a tais famílias.

Background Involuntary family separation due to forced migration is a particular form of suffering to which contemporary methods of psychosocial support seem scarce. It has been shown to cause mental and physical impairments that are often misdiagnosed for pathologies. Migrants who endure such trauma may have prolonged feelings of ambivalence for resettling and impaired conditions for integration. Aim Based on such research and reports, this study attempts to find appropriate measures of inter-personal psychosocial support that may improve resilience and wellbeing to live under such conditions. While building upon Social Work ethics, it targets both professional and non-professional providers of psychosocial support.  Methodology Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with informants from Afghanistan, Iraq, Eritrea, and Syria. All had resettled in Sweden and been separated from their families due to migrating. The interviews explored psychosocial measures that they had received and their own resources for coping. The data was then analysed through Thematic Analysis. Result The results are presented in three overarching themes. The first indicates that psychosocial support is an ambiguous term that was described in manners that contradicts a duality of professional and non-professional support. The two following themes describe support from the informants’ surrounding networks and their own attitudes and efforts of coping. These themes present a “map” of psychosocial needs that can orient support providers to suitable interventions. Discussion and conclusion The study concludes that psychosocial support for migrants in separation benefits of being looked upon from a holistic perspective of needs. Western dualities of professional and non-professional support are not the primary concern in such crises. The findings imply that providers of support do well in bridging the gap to others and collectively fill such necessities. Providing access to community, acknowledgment, and a sharing of the efforts to reunite are means to help the separated find purpose in seemingly purposeless suffering. Methods of coping are own ways to endure the distress of separation. Supporters may help to explore such strategies while remembering cultural variations of perspectives on stress and support.