Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Undocumented Immigrants. Evidence for the Premier-Pas Survey

Objectives: Undocumented immigrants are a highly vulnerable population, frequently exposed to violence and trauma in their country of origin, along the migration journey, and in the host country. This study investigates which factors experienced before, during, and after migration influence the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It also investigates whether PTSD relates to high-risk health behaviors in France. Methods: We relied on a survey representative of undocumented immigrants attending facilities providing assistance to vulnerable populations in Paris and Bordeaux (France). Analyses relied on several multivariate probit models (N = 1,060). Results: Overall, 54.1% of respondents experienced at least one traumatic event, and 17.2% currently suffer from PTSD. Factors associated with an increase probability to develop PTSD are: coming to France for safety reasons (before migration), entering France without appropriate documentation (during migration), food insecurity and poor housing conditions (after migration). PTSD is also associated with an increase probability to engage in high-risk alcohol consumption. Conclusion: Although pre-migration factors cannot be addressed by destination-country policies, our findings suggest that interventions targeting deprivation may help reducing PTSD and substance use among undocumented immigrants.