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Long-term effects of organized violence on young Middle Eastern refugees' mental health

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  • Montgomery, Edith

Abstract

The pre- and post-displacement factors associated with psychological problems among young refugees are not clear. From the existing research it appears that refugee children and adolescents are vulnerable to the effects of pre-migration exposure to trauma, but the long-term effects of such exposure are mediated by certain risk and protective factors at the individual, family and community level. The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of traumatic experiences before emigration, as well as social life after immigration, on the mental health of young Middle Eastern refugees 8-9 years after immigration into Denmark. The study group comprises 131 young refugees (76 girls and 55 boys; mean age 15.3 years) from 67 families. They were assessed in 2000-2001 as part of a follow-up study of 311 children, who in 1992-1993 were consecutively registered in Denmark as asylum seekers with at least one parent. Predictors of more externalizing behaviour were: witnessing attack on others after arrival, more schools attended, less attending school or work, lower mother's education in the home country and lower age. Predictors of more internalizing behaviour were: numbers of types of traumatic events before arrival, numbers of types of stressful events after arrival, and numbers of types of experiences of discrimination, lower mother's education in the home country, fewer Danish friends, not Muslim or Christian religion, less Danish proficiency and female gender. It is concluded that aspects of social life in Denmark, including mother's education and indicators of adaptation, as well as a stressful life context in exile, including discrimination, predicted psychological problems 8-9 years after arrival, more than traumatic experiences before arrival. Thus, the prevention of psychopathology in young refugees depends to a large extent on the political will to make provision for the necessary changes regarding reception and treatment of refugees.

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  • Montgomery, Edith, 2008. "Long-term effects of organized violence on young Middle Eastern refugees' mental health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(10), pages 1596-1603, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:67:y:2008:i:10:p:1596-1603
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    1. Bean, Tammy M. & Eurelings-Bontekoe, Elisabeth & Spinhoven, Philip, 2007. "Course and predictors of mental health of unaccompanied refugee minors in the Netherlands: One year follow-up," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(6), pages 1204-1215, March.
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    3. Mauro Braca & Domenico Berardi & Elisa Mencacci & Martino Belvederi Murri & Stefano Mimmi & Fabio Allegri & Fausto Mazzi & Marco Menchetti & Ilaria Tarricone, 2014. "Understanding psychopathology in migrants: A mixed categorical-dimensional approach," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 60(3), pages 243-253, May.
    4. María Alejandra Chávez Báez, 2021. "The legacy of violence: building or destroying trust? Evidence from Colombia's La Violencia," Documentos CEDE 19558, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
    5. O'Toole Thommessen, Sara Amalie & Todd, Brenda K., 2018. "How do refugee children experience their new situation in England and Denmark? Implications for educational policy and practice," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 228-238.
    6. Nicole Hynek & Arleta Franczukowska & Lydia Rössl & Günther Schreder & Anna Faustmann & Eva Krczal & Isabella Skrivanek & Isolde Sommer & Lukas Zenk, 2020. "A System Model of Post-Migration Risk Factors Affecting the Mental Health of Unaccompanied Minor Refugees in Austria—A Multi-Step Modeling Process Involving Expert Knowledge from Science and Practice," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-17, July.
    7. Miller, Kenneth E. & Rasmussen, Andrew, 2010. "War exposure, daily stressors, and mental health in conflict and post-conflict settings: Bridging the divide between trauma-focused and psychosocial frameworks," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(1), pages 7-16, January.
    8. O'Donnell, Alexander W. & Stuart, Jaimee & O'Donnell, Karlee J., 2020. "The long-term financial and psychological resettlement outcomes of pre-migration trauma and post-settlement difficulties in resettled refugees," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
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    11. Selcuk Besir Demir & Volkan Ozgul, 2019. "Syrian Refugees Minors in Turkey. Why and how are they Discriminated Against and Ostracized?," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 12(6), pages 1989-2011, December.
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