Dataset Information

Household composition after resettlement and emotional health in adolescent migrants.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Migration during adolescence constitutes an important stressor that particularly impacts unaccompanied minors (UAM). Adolescent UAM in the United States (U.S.) are relatively understudied, especially regarding their resilience and emotional well-being after resettlement. Small school-based studies have documented the mental health status of UAM who resettled reuniting with their parents. However, many do not resettle with parents and less is known about the degree to which post-resettlement household composition impacts resilience and emotional well-being.

Methods

Our goal was to examine how migration characteristics, supports, resilience, and emotional well-being vary by UAM resettlement household composition (reunification with parents, reunification with a non-parental family member, or living in a household not containing any family members). Using a mixed-methods (quantitative-qualitative) cross-sectional approach, we assessed 46 Latin American adolescent UAM to the U.S. who resettled into these three household types.

Results

Youth experienced support differently by household type, influencing their strategies for adapting and coping post-resettlement, impacting their resilience (Kruskal Wallis-H 4.8; p<0.09) and emotional well-being (Kruskal Wallis 5.3; p<0.07). Youth living in households without relatives (n = 9) had lower resilience (Fisher's exact test p<0.002) and positive affect (Fisher's exact test p<0.003) and needed to expend greater efforts to mobilize social supports than youth living with parents (n = 22) or with non-parental family members (n = 15).

Conclusion

The needs and coping abilities of UAM migrants vary with the composition of their immediate receiving environment, their post-resettlement household. Understanding differences associated with these household characteristics can guide interventions to maximize emotional health and resilience.

SUBMITTER: Orjuela-Grimm M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9046643 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Household composition after resettlement and emotional health in adolescent migrants.

Orjuela-Grimm Manuela M Marti-Castaner Maria M Bhatt-Carreño Silvia S Castro Maria A MA Restrepo Henao Alexandra A Pinilla Hector H Rodriguez Daniela D Ruiz Ambar A Valentin Michelle M Levine Arielle Richey AR Gonzalez Rossmary R Zuleta Marisa M Pharel Marisa M Medina Paola P Lewis-Fernandez Roberto R

Journal of migration and health 20220416

<h4>Background</h4>Migration during adolescence constitutes an important stressor that particularly impacts unaccompanied minors (UAM). Adolescent UAM in the United States (U.S.) are relatively understudied, especially regarding their resilience and emotional well-being after resettlement. Small school-based studies have documented the mental health status of UAM who resettled reuniting with their parents. However, many do not resettle with parents and less is known about the degree to which pos ...[more]

PMID: 35493420

Similar Datasets

Project description:AimsBy the end of 2022, an estimated 108.4 million individuals worldwide experienced forced displacement. Identifying modifiable factors associated with the mental illness of refugees is crucial for promoting successful integration and developing effective health policies. This study aims to examine the associations between the changes in the diversity of social participation and psychological distress among refugees throughout the resettlement process, specifically focusing on gender differences.MethodsUtilizing data from three waves of a longitudinal, nationally representative cohort study conducted in Australia, this study involved 2399 refugees interviewed during Wave 1, 1894 individuals interviewed during Wave 3 and 1881 respondents during Wave 5. At each wave, we assessed psychological distress and 10 types of social participation across 3 distinct dimensions, including social activities, employment and education. The primary analysis employed mixed linear models and time-varying Cox models. Gender-stratified analyses and sensitivity analyses were performed.ResultsRefugees engaging in one type or two or more types of social participation, compared with those not engaging in any, consistently had lower psychological distress scores (β = -0.62 [95% confidence interval (CI), -1.07 to -0.17] for one type of social participation; β = -0.57 [95% CI, -1.04 to -0.10] for two or more types of social participation) and a reduced risk of experiencing psychological distress (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.81 [95% CI, 0.65-0.99] for one type of social participation; HR = 0.77 [95% CI, 0.61-0.97] for two or more types of social participation) during the resettlement period. When stratifying the results by gender, these associations in the adjusted models only remained significant in male refugees. Moreover, three specific types of social participation, namely sporting activities, leisure activities and current employment status, were most prominently associated with a reduced risk of psychological distress.ConclusionsThe findings of this cohort study suggest that social participation was consistently associated with reduced risks of psychological distress among male refugees during resettlement. These findings highlight the significance of promoting meaningful social participation and interaction may be an effective strategy to improve the mental health of refugees and facilitate their successful integration into society, especially among male refugees.

Project description:BackgroundAdolescent refugees are at high risk of developing mental disorders but are often not recognised early. This pilot study aimed to identify early putative risk factors associated with psychological symptoms in newly resettled refugee youth at potential risk of subsequently developing mental disorders.MethodsNewly resettled adolescent refugees were recruited through English language schools in Melbourne, Australia. Participants were assessed with the MINI-Kid, Achenbach Youth Self-Report and Reaction of Adolescents to Traumatic Stress scale. Parents completed a mental health screening separately. Linear regression models were used to identify predictive factors associated with symptom ratings.ResultsSeventy-eight, ostensibly well, refugee adolescents (mean age = 15.0 ± 1.6 years) resettled in Australia for 6.1 ± 4.2 months were assessed. Levels of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms were considerably lower than in mainstream population data. Prior displacement was a key determinant of symptomatology. Transitory displacement, irrespective of duration, was associated with elevated scores for depression (t (47) = -4.05, p < 0.0001), avoidance/numbing (U = 466, p < .05) and total trauma (U = 506, p < .05) symptoms. Older age was a unique predictor of depression (F (1,74) = 8.98, p < .01), internalising (F(1,74) = 6.28, p < .05) and total (F(1,74) = 4.10, p < .05) symptoms, whilst parental depression symptoms (t = 2.01, p < 0.05), displacement (t = 3.35, p < 0.01) and, expectedly, trauma exposure (t = 3.94, p < 0.001) were unique predictors of post-traumatic stress symptoms.ConclusionsDisplaced status, older age, and parental symptoms predicted psychological symptoms in adolescent refugees in an initial relatively asymptomatic post-resettlement phase. The early recognition of at-risk refugee youth may provide an opportunity for preventative mental health interventions.

Dataset Information

Household composition after resettlement and emotional health in adolescent migrants.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Household composition after resettlement and emotional health in adolescent migrants.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets