Publications
Please check back in early 2014 to review reports on the findings of the Nashville Refugee Health Study conducted by researchers from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College and the Center for Refugees and Immigrants of Tennessee.
Project Background: A small but significant proportion of refugees from around the world are permanently resettled to the U.S. each year. These groups may experience trauma prior to, during, and after flight, as well as more chronic stressors while living in countries of asylum or permanent resettlement. Furthermore, refugees must adjust to life in a new country, which can confer additional burdens. Numerous studies have now shown among general U.S. populations that exposure to stressors has a strong link with health status, particularly certain types of illnesses. Therefore, refugees are potentially at an increased risk for health problems due to their past and current experiences. The Nashville Refugee Health Study used mixed methods to investigate exposure to stressors, health status, and the relationship between the two among community samples of Somali (n=150) and Iraqi (n=150) refugees living in Nashville, TN.