Impairments in psychological functioning in refugees and asylum seekers

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Josef S. Baumgartner - , Medical University of Vienna (Author)
  • Antonia Renner - , Medical University of Vienna (Author)
  • Thomas Wochele-Thoma - , LBI Digital Health and Patient Safety (Author)
  • Peter Wehle - , Medical University of Vienna (Author)
  • Corrado Barbui - , University of Verona (Author)
  • Marianna Purgato - , University of Verona (Author)
  • Federico Tedeschi - , University of Verona (Author)
  • Lorenzo Tarsitani - , University of Rome La Sapienza (Author)
  • Valentina Roselli - , University of Rome La Sapienza (Author)
  • Ceren Acartürk - , Koc University (Author)
  • Ersin Uygun - , Istanbul Bilgi University (Author)
  • Minna Anttila - , University of Turku (Author)
  • Tella Lantta - , University of Turku (Author)
  • Maritta Välimäki - , University of Turku, University of Helsinki (Author)
  • Rachel Churchill - , University of York (Author)
  • Lauren Walker - , University of York, University of Hertfordshire (Author)
  • Marit Sijbrandij - , Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) (Author)
  • Pim Cuijpers - , Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) (Author)
  • Markus Koesters - , Center for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Ulm University (Author)
  • Thomas Klein - , Center for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Ulm University (Author)
  • Ross G. White - , University of Liverpool (UOL) (Author)
  • Marion C. Aichberger - , Medical University of Vienna (Author)
  • Johannes Wancata - , Medical University of Vienna (Author)

Abstract

Refugees are at increased risk for developing psychological impairments due to stressors in the pre-, peri- and post-migration periods. There is limited knowledge on how everyday functioning is affected by migration experience. In a secondary analysis of a study in a sample of refugees and asylum seekers, it was examined how aspects of psychological functioning were differentially affected. 1,101 eligible refugees and asylum seekers in Europe and Türkiye were included in a cross-sectional analysis. Gender, age, education, number of relatives and children living nearby, as well as indicators for depressive and posttraumatic symptoms, quality of life, psychological well-being and functioning, and lifetime potentially traumatic events were assessed. Correlations and multiple regression models with World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) 12-item version’s total and six subdomains’ scores (‘mobility’, ‘life activities’, ‘cognition’, ‘participation’, ‘self-care’, ‘getting along’) as dependent variables were calculated. Tests for multicollinearity and Bonferroni correction were applied. Participants reported highest levels of impairment in ‘mobility’ and ‘participation’, followed by ‘life activities’ and ‘cognition’. Depression and posttraumatic symptoms were independently associated with overall psychological functioning and all subdomains. History of violence and abuse seemed to predict higher impairment in ‘participation’, while past events of being close to death were associated with fewer issues with ‘self-care’. Impairment in psychological functioning in asylum seekers and refugees was related to current psychological symptoms. Mobility and participation issues may explain difficulties arising after resettlement in integration and exchange with host communities in new contexts.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number1295031
JournalFrontiers in psychology
Volume14
Publication statusPublished - 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0001-7018-6021/work/168207936

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • participation, post-migration stressors, psychological functioning, refugee mental health, trauma, WHODAS 2.0