Trauma and perceived social rejection among Yazidi women and girls who survived enslavement and genocide

Background: In August 2014, the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist organization attacked the Yazidi’s ancestral homeland. Among other atrocities they abducted thousands of women and girls and traded many of them as sex-slaves. The aim of present study is to determine the mental health of women and girl survivors these events in relation to enslavement and genocide-related events as well as perceived social rejection in their community. Methods: Between February and July 2017 trained local assessors interviewed an unselected household sample of 416 Yazidi women and girls (65 of them were enslaved) between 17 and 75 years old living in internally displaced people camps in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. PTSD and depression symptoms were assessed using validated Kurdish versions of standard instruments, scales for trauma exposure and perceived rejection were developed for the purpose of this study. Results: Participants reported a huge number of traumatic events and more than 80% of girls and women and almost all formerly enslaved participants met DSM-5 criteria for a probable PTSD diagnosis. Trauma exposure and abduction predicted poor mental health. In addition, among formerly abducted girls and women, perceived social rejection in their community mediated the relationship between traumatic enslavement events and PTSD as well as depression symptoms. Conclusions: In a context of maximum adversity, enslavement and war related events contribute to high levels of PTSD and depression. Perceived social rejection seems to play a role in the relationship between trauma exposure and mental health among abducted genocide survivors. Providing psychosocial support for Yazidi people is essential and urgently required