Trafficking trauma: a review on the psychological effects of human trafficking
Mental Health and Social Inclusion
ISSN: 2042-8308
Article publication date: 7 April 2023
Issue publication date: 15 April 2024
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the psychological consequences of human trafficking and to reveal the importance of appropriate post-trafficking psychological interventions. Specifically, this study provides a detailed analysis of human trafficking categories, as well as the characteristics of victims and traffickers’ motives. More recent data in the literature show that trauma-coerced attachments and complex post-traumatic stress disorder are also observed among trafficking survivors.
Design/methodology/approach
Each of the mentioned mental disorders is presented separately, and results are discussed throughout this study. Consequently, psychological interventions are proposed in accordance with the human trafficking category, survivors’ characteristics and needs and with the relevant personal risk factors determined among victims.
Findings
Sex trafficking can have a severe effect on a victim’s mental health, and mental health disorders are substantially higher in human trafficking victims compared to non-trafficked victims or general psychiatric population. Limitations, implications and future recommendations are discussed.
Originality/value
A limited number of past studies evaluated the mental health consequences and identified that survivors have a higher prevalence of anxiety disorders, depression disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Declarations: No funding was received for conducting this study.
Ethical approval was granted by the board of ethics of the University of Huddersfield. The study was performed in accordance with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and informed consent was gained before the study commencing.
The data sets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Declaration of interest: none.
Citation
Pascale, R.I., Tzani, C., Ioannou, M., Williams, T.J.V. and Hunt, D. (2024), "Trafficking trauma: a review on the psychological effects of human trafficking", Mental Health and Social Inclusion, Vol. 28 No. 2, pp. 144-161. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-03-2023-0026
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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