Relationship Between Trauma, Shame & Guilt: Findings from a Community-Based Study of Refugee Minors in Germany

Below:  Scatterplot of the total number of traumatic events and the severity of PTSD symptoms experienced by unaccompanied (UMR) and accompanied (AMR) minor refugees

Below:  Scatterplot of the total number of traumatic events and global guilt experienced by unaccompanied (UMR) and accompanied (AMR) minor refugees

Below:  Scatterplot of the total number of traumatic events and intensity duration frequency of shame episodes experienced by unaccompanied (UMR) and accompanied (AMR) minor refugees

Feelings of guilt and shame as well as trauma symptoms were all associated with the number of traumatic event types subjects had experienced. Posttraumatic guilt and shame were both correlated with PTSD symptom severity.

The findings indicate that cumulative stress such as exposure to multiple traumatic events poses a risk factor for the mental health including greater suffering and functional impairment due to shame and guilt.

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