A systematic review of risk and protective factors associated with family related violence in refugee families

TY - JOUR

T1 - A systematic review of risk and protective factors associated with family related violence in refugee families

AU - Timshel, Isabelle

AU - Montgomery, Edith

AU - Dalgaard, Nina Thorup

PY - 2017/8

Y1 - 2017/8

N2 - The current systematic review summarizes the evidence from studies examining the risk and protective factors associated with family related violence in refugee families. Data included 15 peer-reviewed qualitative and quantitative studies. In order to gain an overview of the identified risk and protective factors an ecological model was used to structure the findings. At the individual level, parental trauma experiences/mental illness, substance abuse and history of child abuse were found to be risk factors. Family level risk factors included parent-child interaction, family structure and family acculturation stress. At the societal level low socioeconomic status was identified as a risk factor. Cultural level risk factors included patriarchal beliefs. Positive parental coping strategies were a protective factor. An ecological analysis of the results suggests that family related violence in refugee families is a result of accumulating, multiple risk factors on the individual, familial, societal and cultural level. The findings suggest that individual trauma and exile related stress do not only affect the individual but have consequences at a family level. Thus, interventions targeting family related violence should not only include the individual, but the family.

AB - The current systematic review summarizes the evidence from studies examining the risk and protective factors associated with family related violence in refugee families. Data included 15 peer-reviewed qualitative and quantitative studies. In order to gain an overview of the identified risk and protective factors an ecological model was used to structure the findings. At the individual level, parental trauma experiences/mental illness, substance abuse and history of child abuse were found to be risk factors. Family level risk factors included parent-child interaction, family structure and family acculturation stress. At the societal level low socioeconomic status was identified as a risk factor. Cultural level risk factors included patriarchal beliefs. Positive parental coping strategies were a protective factor. An ecological analysis of the results suggests that family related violence in refugee families is a result of accumulating, multiple risk factors on the individual, familial, societal and cultural level. The findings suggest that individual trauma and exile related stress do not only affect the individual but have consequences at a family level. Thus, interventions targeting family related violence should not only include the individual, but the family.

KW - Family related violence

KW - PTSD

KW - Refugee

KW - Trauma

U2 - 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.06.023

DO - 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.06.023

M3 - Review

C2 - 28683372

AN - SCOPUS:85021688080

SN - 0145-2134

VL - 70

SP - 315

EP - 330

JO - Child Abuse & Neglect

JF - Child Abuse & Neglect

ER -