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A Scoping Review and Conceptual Model of Social Participation and Mental Health among Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Author

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  • Maria Niemi

    (Department of Public Health Science, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 1E, 104 31 Stockholm, Sweden
    Center for Social Sustainability, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Alfred Nobels Allé 23, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden)

  • Hélio Manhica

    (Department of Public Health Science, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 1E, 104 31 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • David Gunnarsson

    (School of Historical and Contemporary Studies, Södertörn University, Alfred Nobels Allée 7, 141 89 Huddinge, Sweden)

  • Göran Ståhle

    (School of Historical and Contemporary Studies, Södertörn University, Alfred Nobels Allée 7, 141 89 Huddinge, Sweden)

  • Sofia Larsson

    (Department of Health Sciences, Swedish Red Cross University College, Hälsovägen 11, 141 57 Huddinge, Sweden)

  • Fredrik Saboonchi

    (Department of Health Sciences, Swedish Red Cross University College, Hälsovägen 11, 141 57 Huddinge, Sweden
    Division of Insurance medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Berzelius Väg 3, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden)

Abstract

Social participation plays a key role in the integration of refugees and asylum seekers into their host societies, and is also closely tied to the mental health of those populations. The aim of this scoping review was to study how the concept of social participation is described in empirical research, and how it is associated with mental health outcomes. Methods: In total, 64 studies were identified through searches in PubMed, PsycInfo, and Sociological Abstracts. These studies describe various forms of social participation among refugees and asylum seekers, and 33 of them also addressed various forms of mental health outcomes. Results: The identified studies described forms and conditions of social participation—both in the host country and transnationally—that could be synthesized into three broad dimensions: (1) Regulatory frameworks, conditions and initiatives; (2) Established societal organizations and social structures; and (3) Community organized groups. Each of these consisted of several sub-domains. The identified dimensions of social participation were also associated with psychosocial well-being and decreased psychological distress. Conclusions: There is a need for policies to enable and support the participation of refugees and asylum seekers in various dimensions of social structures in host societies. Social participation enhances resilience, re-establishes social lives, and acts as a protective factor against poor mental health outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Niemi & Hélio Manhica & David Gunnarsson & Göran Ståhle & Sofia Larsson & Fredrik Saboonchi, 2019. "A Scoping Review and Conceptual Model of Social Participation and Mental Health among Refugees and Asylum Seekers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-27, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:20:p:4027-:d:278731
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gwendolyn Blue & Marit Rosol & Victoria Fast, 2019. "Justice as Parity of Participation," Journal of the American Planning Association, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 85(3), pages 363-376, July.
    2. Lindström, Martin & Hanson, Bertil S. & Östergren, Per-Olof, 2001. "Socioeconomic differences in leisure-time physical activity: the role of social participation and social capital in shaping health related behaviour," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 52(3), pages 441-451, February.
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    1. Henriëtte E. van Heemstra & Willem F. Scholte & Angela Nickerson & Paul A. Boelen, 2021. "Can Circumstances Be Softened? Self-Efficacy, Post-Migratory Stressors, and Mental Health among Refugees," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-9, February.
    2. David Gunnarsson & Sofia Larsson & Linda Vikdahl, 2023. "Legal Conditions for Refugees’ Mental Health: Implications of Legislative Changes in Programs for Newly Arrived Refugees in Sweden," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-16, July.
    3. Sofia Larsson & David Gunnarsson & Linda Vikdahl, 2022. "Social Participation and Mental Health in the Establishment Programme for Newly Arrived Refugees in Sweden—A Document Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-15, April.
    4. Sebastian Leitner, 2023. "Development of Mental Distress of Refugees in Austria During their Economic and Social Integration in 2017-2022," wiiw Working Papers 233, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw.
    5. Yui Yamaoka & Aya Isumi & Satomi Doi & Takeo Fujiwara, 2021. "Association between Children’s Engagement in Community Cultural Activities and Their Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results from A-CHILD Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-10, December.
    6. Øivind Solberg & Mathilde Sengoelge & Alexander Nissen & Fredrik Saboonchi, 2021. "Coping in Limbo? The Moderating Role of Coping Strategies in the Relationship between Post-Migration Stress and Well-Being during the Asylum-Seeking Process," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-16, January.

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