Paper Title
The Impact of Trauma Exposure Characteristics, Trauma Centrality and Emotional Suppression on Posttraumatic Stress Among Syrian Refugees

Abstract
This study revisited the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and examined a hypothesized model describing the inter-relationship between trauma exposure characteristics, trauma centrality, emotional suppression, PTSD and psychiatric co-morbidity among Syrian refugees. Five hundred and sixty-four Syrian refugees participated in the study and completed the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire-28, Centrality of Event Scale and Courtauld Emotional Control Scale. The results showed that 30% met the cutoff for PTSD. Trauma exposure characteristics were associated with trauma centrality which was associated with emotional suppression. Emotional suppression was associated with PTSD and psychiatric co-morbid symptom severities. To conclude, almost a third of refugees can develop PTSD and other psychiatric problems following exposure to traumatic events during the war. A traumatized identity can develop with life-threatening experiences as a dominant feature. It can lead to suppression of depression with associated psychological distress. Key words- trauma characteristics, trauma centrality, emotional suppression, refugees