Dataset Information

[The effect of postmigration stressors on the prevalence of depressive symptoms among refugees in Germany. Analysis of the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey 2016].

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:International studies prove the high burden of mental illnesses among refugees. Postmigration stressors in the country of refuge may affect the mental health and result in depression. OBJECTIVES:The study examines whether postmigration stressors are associated with the prevalence of depressive symptoms among adult refugees in Germany. METHODS:Secondary data analysis based on cross-sectional data of the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey of Refugees 2016 (N?=?4465) that is representative for Germany. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire?2 (PHQ-2). Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with binary logistic regression models to examine associations between depression and sociodemographic, postmigration, and psychosocial factors. RESULTS:Depressive symptoms show 19.4% of the surveyed refugees. Almost all selected postmigration stressors are significantly associated with depression after adjustment for sociodemographic and psychosocial factors. Unemployment (aOR?=?1.48 [1.04-2.12]), loneliness (aOR?=?1.14 [1.10-1.18]), and a rejected or undecided asylum application (aOR?=?1.34 [1.06-1.70]) increase the odds of depressive symptoms, whereas asylum interviews (aOR?=?0.71 [0.56-0.91]) and higher housing satisfaction (aOR?=?0.94 [0.91-0.98]) lower the odds of depression. CONCLUSIONS:Postmigration stress is associated with the occurrence of depressive symptoms. Sociopolitical interventions considering stressful and protective factors of the postmigration phase can reduce the burden of mental disorders in refugee populations.

SUBMITTER: Nutsch N

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7686213 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

[The effect of postmigration stressors on the prevalence of depressive symptoms among refugees in Germany. Analysis of the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey 2016].

Nutsch Niklas N Bozorgmehr Kayvan K

Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz 20201025 12

<h4>Background</h4>International studies prove the high burden of mental illnesses among refugees. Postmigration stressors in the country of refuge may affect the mental health and result in depression.<h4>Objectives</h4>The study examines whether postmigration stressors are associated with the prevalence of depressive symptoms among adult refugees in Germany.<h4>Methods</h4>Secondary data analysis based on cross-sectional data of the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey of Refugees 2016 (N = 4465) that is repr ...[more]

PMID: 33103207

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Project description:OBJECTIVES:To estimate the prevalence of and associations between anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), low subjective well-being (SWB), potential traumas and postmigration stress among refugees from Syria resettled in Sweden. DESIGN:A cross-sectional and population-based questionnaire study based on a known and complete sample frame. The survey included multiple measures of mental ill health and factors of particular relevance for refugees. Weighted analyses were conducted to calculate representative prevalence rates and associations. Associations were investigated through a series of logistic regression analyses. All analyses were supplemented with robust 95% CIs. SETTING:Sweden. PARTICIPANTS:A random sample of 1215 individuals (response rate 30.4%) from Syria aged 18-64 years that were granted residency in Sweden on grounds of asylum between 2011 and 2013. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Anxiety, depression, PTSD and low SWB were assessed through Hopkins Symptom Checklist, Harvard Trauma Questionnaire and WHO-5 Well-being Index, using established cut-offs. RESULTS:A majority of the participants met the criteria for at least one of the studied types of mental ill health, and the comorbidity was high. Depression was the most the common type with 40.2% (95% CI 36.9% to 43.3%), followed by low SWB with 37.7% (95% CI 34.8% to 40.1%), anxiety with 31.8% (95% CI 29.2% to 34.7%) and PTSD with 29.9% (95% CI 27.2% to 32.6%). Refugee-related potentially traumatic events (PTEs) experienced before or during migration was common as was substantial levels of postmigration stress. Most types of refugee-related PTEs, especially being exposed to interpersonal violence, and postmigration stress were associated with increased risks for anxiety, depression, low SWB and PTSD. CONCLUSIONS:Mental ill health, in terms of anxiety, depression, low SWB and PTSD, are highly elevated and comorbid among refugees from Syria. Increased attention from multiple societal sectors to adequately support Syrian refugees' mental health needs, promoting recovery and reducing postmigration stress are needed.

Project description:BackgroundGermany played a key role as receiving country during the so-called refugee and displacement crisis with about 5 million asylum seekers arriving in the EU between 2014 and 2020. It is well known that asylum seekers and refugees (ASRs) have a high burden of disease and are particularly prone to mental disorders such as trauma, stress-related and affective disorders. Not much is known about the determinants of health-related quality of life (HrQoL) among ASRs, especially in the context of the flight. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the associations between flight-related characteristics and HrQoL of ASRs in Germany.MethodsThe sample of this study was based on five consecutive waves of the Survey of Refugees samples of the German Socio-Economic Panel (n = 8015; 14,314 observations). Mental and physical HrQoL was measured using the mental (MCS) and physical (PCS) component summary scores of the SF-12v2. Associations between flight-related characteristics and HrQoL were examined using multilevel mixed-effects linear regressions.ResultsThe different countries of birth were associated with varying MCS and PCS scores. The MCS and PCS scores were lower among ASRs with an economic situation below average in their countries of origin. Persecution, discrimination, and poor living conditions as reasons for leaving the county were associated with lower MCS scores. ASRs who were dissatisfied with their own living situation and who were discriminated often due to their origin had both lower MCS and PCS scores. Not feeling welcome in Germany and missing people from one's country of origin were both associated with lower MCS scores. No worries about not being able to stay in Germany or not being able to return to one's country of origin were both associated with higher MCS scores.ConclusionsThe economic situation in the country of origin and the presence of persecution, discrimination, and/or poor living conditions as reason for flight may be pre-flight-related determinants of HrQoL of ASRs in Germany. Possible post-flight-related determinants can be the residence status, the satisfaction with one's living situation, discrimination due to one's origin and a feeling of missing people from one's country of origin. With regard to those determinants, the clarity about the residence status, reducing racial discrimination and the mourning of flight-related circumstances must be ensured.

Project description:BackgroundPrevious research has demonstrated the negative effects of study-related stressors on the mental health of medical students. It has been found that social resources such as social identity, dual identity and social support help buffer negative mental health outcomes. Notably, social status has been found to weaken the connection between stress and depressive symptoms. Based on these findings, the present study investigates how social resources (i.e., social identity, social support, dual identity and status) mitigate the impact of study-related stressors on the mental health of medical students who carry an inordinate stress burden.MethodsThe data collection was based on a questionnaire (online and paper-pencil) which was distributed to medical students in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The sample (224 participants) consisted of 77.2% female and 22.8% male medical students (36.2% human medicine students (HMS) and 63.8% dental medicine students (DMS)). The questionnaire included graphical scales and standardized questionnaires. We investigated demographic data, study-related stressors (i.e. academic performance, clinical practice, faculty relations) and depressive symptoms as outcomes, and social identity, social support, dual identity and status as moderators. The analyses were performed using SPSS 25 for Windows.ResultsWe found significant positive associations between study-related stressors and depressive symptoms. While dual identity as well as social support by fellow students emerged as buffers in these associations, the other social resources did not. As regards status, it was found to work as a buffer only in HMS, who typically enjoy a significantly higher status than dental medical students.ConclusionIt is only social resources such as support from fellow students and dual identity, but not other resource types, that can be effective buffers against depressive symptoms associated with study-related stressors. These findings can be used to promote students' identities in relation to both fellow students and the faculty, or the university as a whole, enabling students to better cope with stress and, thus, suffer less from depressive symptoms. Furthermore, the HMS, who ascribe a relatively high status to themselves, can use their status as a buffering factor in stressful situations, in which little can be done from the outside.

Dataset Information

[The effect of postmigration stressors on the prevalence of depressive symptoms among refugees in Germany. Analysis of the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey 2016].

Publications

[The effect of postmigration stressors on the prevalence of depressive symptoms among refugees in Germany. Analysis of the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey 2016].

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