Post-migration factors and mental health outcomes in asylum-seeking and refugee populations: a systematic review

Christina Gleeson, Rachel Frost, Larissa Sherwood, Mark Shevlin, Philip Hyland, Rory Halpin, Jamie Murphy, Derrick Silove

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

93 Citations (Scopus)
280 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The present systematic review examined post-migration variables impacting upon mental health outcomes among asylum-seeking and refugee populations in Europe. It focuses on the effects of post-settlement stressors (including length of asylum process and duration of stay, residency status and social integration) and their impact upon post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. Twenty-two studies were reviewed in this study. Length of asylum process and duration of stay was found to be the most frequently cited factor for mental health difficulties in 9 out of 22 studies. Contrary to expectation, residency or legal status was posited as a marker for other explanatory variables, including loneliness, discrimination and communication or language problems, rather than being an explanatory variable itself. However, in line with previous findings and as hypothesised in this review, there were statistically significant correlations found between family life, family separation and mental health outcomes.
Original languageEnglish
Article number1793567
Number of pages13
JournalEuropean Journal of Psychotraumatology
Volume11, 2020
Issue number1
Early online date1 Dec 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 31 Dec 2020

Keywords

  • Post-migration
  • systematic review
  • forced migration
  • mental health

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Post-migration factors and mental health outcomes in asylum-seeking and refugee populations: a systematic review'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this