Mental health of asylum seekers and refugees: The role of trauma and postmigration living difficulties and the moderating effect of intergroup contact

Current research in ecological and social psychology Pub Date : 2023-01-01 DOI:10.1016/j.cresp.2023.100118

Shabnam Pouraghajan , Johannes Ullrich , Naser Morina

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Abstract

Refugees undergo traumatic events during the premigration and transit phases and also experience severe difficulties after resettlement in a new country, and they are therefore at high risk of developing mental health problems. The present studies examined if intergroup contact with members of the receiving society moderates these negative impacts on refugees’ mental health. Two studies with refugees in Switzerland (N = 262) revealed both buffering and exacerbating effects of intergroup contact. Having more Swiss friends was associated with a less negative relationship between postmigration living difficulties and mental health. Surprisingly, having more Swiss friends was also associated with a more negative relationship between traumatization and mental health. These results suggest that intergroup contact may help refugees adjust to the living conditions in the receiving society, but may pose a risk regarding trauma-related disorders.

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寻求庇护者和难民的心理健康：创伤和移民后生活困难的作用以及群体间接触的调节作用

难民在移徙前和过境阶段经历创伤性事件，在新国家重新安置后也经历严重困难，因此，他们患精神健康问题的风险很高。本研究考察了与接收社会成员的群体间接触是否会缓和这些对难民心理健康的负面影响。两项针对瑞士难民的研究(N = 262)揭示了群体间接触的缓冲效应和加剧效应。拥有更多的瑞士人朋友，移民后的生活困难与心理健康之间的负相关关系就会减少。令人惊讶的是，拥有更多的瑞士朋友也与创伤和心理健康之间的更负相关。这些结果表明，群体间接触可能有助于难民适应接收社会的生活条件，但可能会带来创伤相关疾病的风险。

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