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Sex Differences on Quality of Life and Mental Health Outcomes When Using a Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Skill Building Intervention with Adolescent Syrian Refugees: A Secondary Analysis

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Abstract

Little is known about how sex as a biological variable may contribute to differences in quality of life (QOL) and mental health outcomes following a brief intervention among adolescent Syrian refugees. This paper explores the results of a secondary data analysis to investigate differences by sex on self-reported QOL and mental health outcomes among Syrian refugees who participated in a 7-session cognitive behavioral skills building intervention. A one group pretest–posttest design was used to deliver the intervention to 31 adolescent refugees (13–17 years; 15 male, and 16 female). At baseline, there were no significant differences between males and females on mean scores of depression, anxiety, or QOL. Post-intervention, self-reported scores for QOL and mental health were significantly different between sexes. Males demonstrated a significant decrease in anxiety scores compared to females. Among males only, significant decreases in depression and anxiety scores were observed with significant improvement in total QOL.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Howard Karagheusian Primary Health care center, the general manager and staff for their tremendous help and support, and all the families and adolescents who participated in this study.

Funding

This work was supported by the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (AHPSR) in collaboration with WHO/EMRO under Grant scheme for Improving Program Implementation through Embedded Research (iPIER).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. American University of Beirut, Lebanon, P.O. box: 11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon

    Chant Kazandjian

  2. Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women, Children & Youth, The Ohio State University, 1585 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Lisa K. Militello

  3. Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing, Lebanese American University, P.O. box 36, Byblos Campus, Byblos, Lebanon

    Rita Doumit

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  1. Chant Kazandjian
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  2. Lisa K. Militello
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  3. Rita Doumit
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Correspondence to Rita Doumit.

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Kazandjian, C., Militello, L.K. & Doumit, R. Sex Differences on Quality of Life and Mental Health Outcomes When Using a Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Skill Building Intervention with Adolescent Syrian Refugees: A Secondary Analysis. Community Ment Health J 56, 157–164 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-019-00453-1

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