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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The case of adult Bosnian Muslim male refugees in Chicago: Current health behavior outcomes and PTSD symptomatology

Abstract

dc:description

This study examined whether a relationship exists between the presence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptomatology and health behavior outcomes. The study also examined the severity of PTSD symptomatology and particular health behaviors, among adult Bosnian Muslim male refugees residing in the greater Chicago area more than a decade after their arrival to the United States. 637 Bosnian Refugees in Chicago Questionnaires (BRCQ) were included in data analysis. Seven research hypotheses were tested using either the Pearson chi-square tests of independence or two independent sample t tests. This study found a statistically significant relationship between the presence of PTSD symptomatology and the respondents’ general health rating, recentness of a dental visit, and smoking frequency. Statistically significant relationship was found to exist between the severity of PTSD symptomatology and engagement in physical activity, availability of healthcare coverage, and sufficiency of funds for healthcare services. The study did not find a statistically significant relationship between PTSD status and the recentness of a routine medical visit. This study highlights the need for further studies among Bosnian refugees, as well as other refugee populations, long after their permanent resettlement in their host country, since most of the current programs and policies focus on newly arriving refugees, with very little focus on long-term and ongoing follow-up.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Ph.D.
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Community Health
Grantor
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Year dc:date
2010

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Delic-Ovcina, Lejla
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Alston, Reginald J.
  • Smith, Diane L.
  • Strauser, David R.
  • Farner, Susan M.
  • Notaro, Stephen J.

Subjects

dc:subject × 5

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • Copyright 2010 Lehla Delic-Ovcina
Language dc:language
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/15543
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/15543

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
Base URL
www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Delic-Ovcina, Lejla. The case of adult Bosnian Muslim male refugees in Chicago: Current health behavior outcomes and PTSD symptomatology. Dissertation thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/2142/15543