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Can Circumstances Be Softened? Self-Efficacy, Post-Migratory Stressors, and Mental Health among Refugees

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  • Henriëtte E. van Heemstra

    (ARQ Centrum’45, ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Nienoord 5, 1112 XE Diemen, The Netherlands
    Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands)

  • Willem F. Scholte

    (ARQ Centrum’45, ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Nienoord 5, 1112 XE Diemen, The Netherlands
    Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Angela Nickerson

    (School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia)

  • Paul A. Boelen

    (ARQ Centrum’45, ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Nienoord 5, 1112 XE Diemen, The Netherlands
    Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Post-migratory stressors (PS) are a risk factor for mental health problems among resettled refugees. There is a need to identify factors which can reduce this burden. Self-efficacy (SE) is associated with refugees’ mental health. The current study examined whether SE can protect this group from the impact of PS on mental wellbeing. Higher levels of PS were expected to be associated with higher levels of mental health problems. In addition, we expected this linkage to be moderated by lower SE. Questionnaires were administered to a non-clinical refugee sample ( N = 114, 46% female, average age 35 SD = 10.42 years) with various backgrounds. The following questionnaires were used: the Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20 (SRQ-20) to assess mental health problems, the General Self-Efficacy Scale (SGES) to measure SE, and an adapted version of the Post-Migration Living Difficulties Checklist (PMLD) to measure PS. Bivariate correlations and multiple linear regression analysis were performed. No significant contribution was found for SE or the interaction of SE and daily stressors, above and beyond the significant contribution of daily stressors to mental health problems. The findings reinforce that PS affects mental health and suggest that SE had a limited impact on mental health in this non-clinical sample of refugees.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:1440-:d:492806
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michela Nosè & Francesca Ballette & Irene Bighelli & Giulia Turrini & Marianna Purgato & Wietse Tol & Stefan Priebe & Corrado Barbui, 2017. "Psychosocial interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder in refugees and asylum seekers resettled in high-income countries: Systematic review and meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(2), pages 1-16, February.
    2. Lindert, Jutta & Ehrenstein, Ondine S. von & Priebe, Stefan & Mielck, Andreas & Brähler, Elmar, 2009. "Depression and anxiety in labor migrants and refugees - A systematic review and meta-analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(2), pages 246-257, July.
    3. 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.
    4. Watters, Charles, 2001. "Emerging paradigms in the mental health care of refugees," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 52(11), pages 1709-1718, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yufei Mandy Wu & Jens Kreitewolf & Rachel Kronick, 2023. "The Relationship between Wellbeing, Self-Determination, and Resettlement Stress for Asylum-Seeking Mothers Attending an Ecosocial Community-Based Intervention: A Mixed-Methods Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(22), pages 1-19, November.
    2. Shelley Gower & Zakia Jeemi & David Forbes & Paul Kebble & Jaya A. R. Dantas, 2022. "Peer Mentoring Programs for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Refugee and Migrant Women: An Integrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-18, October.

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