Impact of Deportation Due to War on the Emotional State of Secondary School Male Students in Saudi Arabia
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- Category: Vol. 79, September 2011
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Impact of Deportation Due to War on the Emotional State of Secondary School Male Students in Saudi Arabia OSSAMA A. MOSTAFA, Ph.D.
Abstract
Aim of Study: To assess the impact of deportation on the mental health status of Saudi secondary school male students.
Subjects and Methods: All deported secondary school male students (n=354) constituted the study group, while the comparative group comprised 278 non-deported secondary school male students. Study tools comprised a personal char-acteristics questionnaire and the Arabic version of the Depres-sion, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS).
Results: Compared with non-deported students, deported students had significantly higher prevalence rates for symptoms of depression (66.4% vs. 24.1%, p<0.001), anxiety (60.7% vs. 32.4%, p<0.001) and stress (50% vs. 26.6%, p<0.001). Some deported secondary school students (2.8%) had an injured relative. Loss of property affected 72.6% of students, while 12.1% of the students' families sustained loss of their main source of income. The great majority of students (98.9%) expressed their strong wish to return back home. Prevalence of depression was not significantly associated with injury of a relative or loss of source of family income. However, loss of property was the most significant incident associated with a higher prevalence of depression (p<0.001). There was no significant difference between prevalence of homesickness according to presence of depression attributed to deportation (99.2% compared with 98.7%, p=0.714). Prevalence of anxiety was not significantly associated with injury of a relative. However, loss of property and loss of source of family income were significantly associated with a higher prevalence of anxiety (p<0.001 for each). Stress was not significantly associated with injury of a relative (p=0.521). Yet, it was significantly associated with loss of property (p<0.001) and loss of source of family income (p=0.002). However, there was no significant difference between stressed and non-stressed deported students regarding homesickness (p=0.315).
Conclusions: Exposure to deportation significantly in-creases negative emotional states among male secondary school students, of whom the highest vulnerability being to depression. The main causes of negative emotional states among deported secondary school male students include war-related trauma and deportation. Loss of family's property and loss of the main source for family income significantly affect the mental health status of deported students. Homesickness affects almost all deported male secondary school students.
Recommendations: Special care is to be provided through properly developed mental health interventions addressing the needs of deported children. Planning and implementing a proper mental health program for the management of victims of deportation. Screening of all deportees should be repeated annually to identify long-term impact of deportation. Deported families should be well-compensated to minimize the impact of war-related losses. Their return back to their original homes should be considered, whenever the reasons for unrest and conflicts become completely resolved.