내전 배경 이집트 내 사실상 난민의 PTSD가 우울에 미치는 영향: 경제적 부담의 조절효과 검증

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the mental health risk factors of prima facie refugees residing in Egypt who are originally from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and to provide foundational data for developing intervention strategies that support their stable and healthy social integration. The research model was theoretically grounded in the Fluid Vulnerability Theory (FVT). Data for this study were derived from the author’s doctoral dissertation and were collected using purposive sampling from prima facie refugees who entered Egypt after fleeing armed conflict in countries such as Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Palestine, and Sudan. The field survey was conducted with the cooperation of two refugee assistance NGOs located in Cairo, Jamiya Habiba Care and Markaj Sanad, both of which provided research space and assistance in participant recruitment. A total of 304 participants were initially recruited through Markaj Sanad between January 31 and February 7, 2024, and a survey was subsequently conducted from February 7 to 9, 2024 at the office of Jamiya Habiba Care. After excluding three participants. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were conducted using SPSS 25.0, and the PROCESS macro was employed to test the research model. The results revealed that levels of PTSD, depression, and financial strain among prima facie refugees in Egypt exceeded the median, indicating relatively high levels of psychological and economic vulnerability. Correlation analysis showed significant positive relationships among PTSD, financial strain, and depression. Path analysis demonstrated that PTSD had a significant positive effect on depression; however, financial strain did not have a statistically significant effect on depression and did not exhibit a moderating effect on the relationship between PTSD and depression. This study has the following limitations. First, due to its cross-sectional design, it was not possible to reflect the temporal context of PTSD onset or its developmental trajectory. Second, approximately 82% of the total sample consisted of female participants, indicating a gender imbalance that requires caution in interpretation and limits the generalizability of the findings. Despite these limitations, this study holds academic significance as one of the few empirical studies to examine the relationship between PTSD and depression among prima facie refugees in a non-Western host country such as Egypt. In particular, by statistically verifying the effect of PTSD on depression through path analysis, this study holds academic significance in that it partially elucidates, using quantitative data, the mechanism through which PTSD increases the level of depression among prima facie refugees in Egypt.