Year: 2017
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The Refugee Health Screener-15 (RHS-15) is widely used in refugee populations, but the psychometric properties and clinical utility have not been evaluated in Cuban refugees and entrants. The current study explored results from the Spanish version of the RHS-15 in a sample of 53 Cuban entrants and refugees, and of these, 17.6% screened positive for a mental health concern. Analyses suggested that a positive screening was significantly related to symptoms of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder; however, it was not associated with demographic variables such as gender, mode of transport, or the number of countries through which a refugee traveled before arriving in the United States. A factor analysis of the measure revealed a 4-factor solution is most appropriate when used with Cuban individuals. Results provide preliminary evidence regarding the measure’s psychometric properties, and demonstrate that the Spanish version of the RHS-15 is an appropriate screening tool for the mental health of newly arrived Cuban entrants and refugees. Future studies should further validate the Spanish version RHS-15 in Cuban entrants and refugees, and explore its efficacy amongst Latino refugees of other nationalities.
Language: English
Topic: Migration, Health and Trauma
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2746699208