Associations between family-level adversity and society-level trauma with emotional and behavioural problems amongst children of West Papuan refugees

Abstract

Few studies have examined associations between family-level parental factors, society-level violence, and the emotional and behavioral status of children of refugee populations. Our study used cross-sectional epidemiological data to test a theoretical model of these key associations amongst a community sample of children (n = 162) of West Papuan refugees living in remote town in Papua New Guinea (PNG), a setting of endemic violence and poverty. Culturally adapted instruments were used to assess three types of intra-familial factors (adverse parenting, physical and/or sexual abuse and emotional abuse) and three types of society-level violence and stressors (exposure to systematic violence, peer violence, living difficulties). Emotional and behavioural problems were assessed using the Youth Self-Report Checklist. Path analysis was used to test theoretical associations. Key findings include direct associations between both family-level physical and/or sexual abuse (β =.43; p