Resilience in Syrian refugee youth

Abstract

Background The importance of resilience factors in the positive adaptation of refugee youth is widely recognised. However, their actual mechanism of impact remains under-researched. The aim of this study was therefore to explore protective and promotive resilience mechanisms on both negative and positive mental health outcomes. Promotive resilience is seen as a direct main effect and protective resilience as a moderating effect. Methods Cross-sectional study with 160 Syrian youth aged 13-24 years, who recently resettled in Norway. A multi-dimensional measure for resilience was used to explore the potential impact of resilience factors on pathways between potentially traumatic events from war and flight (PTE), post-migration stress, mental distress and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Analyses included regression, moderation and moderated mediation using the PROCESS macro for SPSS. Results A direct main effect of resilience factors (promotive resilience mechanism) was found for HRQoL and general mental distress, but not for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). No moderating effects of resilience factors (protective resilience mechanism) were found. Post-migration stressors mediated the effects of PTE, and this indirect effect was present at all levels of resilience. Relational and environmental level resilience factors and combined amounts had more impact than individual level factors. Conclusions Despite high risk exposure and mental distress, resilience was also high. The direct main effect of resilience factors and less impact on PTSD, suggests universal resilience building interventions may be beneficial, compared to exclusively targeting groups with high symptom levels. These interventions should target relational and environmental resilience factors as well as individual coping techniques. Additionally, reducing current stress and symptoms could increase the efficacy of resilience factors already present. Key messages • Refugee youth may have both high levels of risk and high resilience. • Universal resilience interventions should focus on relational and environmental support, as well as individual resilience.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Unaccompanied Refugee Minors: Prevalence, Contributing and Protective Factors, and Effective Interventions: A Scoping Review

“…This is exacerbated by their uncertain future regarding asylum and their current living situation. Increased attention should be given to post-migration risk and resilience factors, especially environmental and relational factors [72].…”

Public health nurses' experiences with mental health promotion for adolescent immigrants in schools: A qualitative study

“…Mental health problems can affect people of any age and demographic group in any society, manifesting variably from person to person based on their life circumstances [5]. In comparison to the majority population in a host society, immigrants, particularly adolescent immigrants, are more prone to mental health problems [6][7][8][9]. Therefore, promoting mental health among adolescent immigrants is vital to ensure that no one is left behind.…”

“…In Norway, public health nurses (PHNs) serve target groups such as adolescents including immigrants, with mental health promotion, in school health services [4]. However, this requires appropriate professional and cultural competence as well as collaboration with other stakeholders [7,[11][12][13]. Mental health and migration theories [14] can provide useful lenses to understand PHNs' work with adolescent immigrants.…”

“…The opposite or negative aspects are where one languishes [15,16]. While this applies to anyone, immigrants can experience positive or negative mental health effects, and both are likely to manifest more in adolescent immigrants [7,14,17]. First, as immigrants, it depends on their pre-and post-migration experience, their coping ability, and whether they successfully integrate or not.…”