Factors Associated With Adverse Mental Health Outcomes in Locally Recruited Aid Workers Assisting Iraqi Refugees in Jordan |
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| Authors: | Cynthia B. Eriksson Barbara Lopes Cardozo Frida Ghitis Miriam Sabin Carol Gotway Crawford Julia Zhu |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Fuller Theological Seminary, Graduate School of Psychology , Pasadena , California , USA eriksson@fuller.edu;3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Atlanta , Georgia , USA;4. International Insights, Inc. , Atlanta , Georgia , USA;5. The Antares Foundation , Amsterdam , Netherlands |
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| Abstract: | Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) serve Iraqis living in Jordan as “guests.” In 2008, 258 Jordanian humanitarian staff and Iraqi volunteers working for NGOs completed a needs assessment survey. Work characteristics, stressors, and support variables were evaluated regarding their influence on depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and burnout through multivariate logistic regressions. There was a significant difference in depression, anxiety, and burnout across nationality. Traumatic exposure increased the risk for anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Working longer in the humanitarian sector was associated with less risk of anxiety and depression, and lower social support was a risk for anxiety. Managers were at higher risk for burnout, and low team cohesion was a risk for burnout. Implications for aid organizations are discussed. |
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| Keywords: | humanitarian aid workers Jordan mental health refugees |
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