Quality of life in unaccompanied young refugees: the role of traumatic events, post-migration stressors and mental distress
Abstract Background Unaccompanied young refugees (UYRs) are exposed to numerous potentially traumatizing events and post-migration stressors before, during, and after migration. These adverse experiences may affect their mental health and their quality of life. Consequently, this study aimed to focu...
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06975-1 |
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| author | Maike Garbade Selina Kappler Jenny Eglinsky Heinz Kindler Rita Rosner Cedric Sachser Elisa Pfeiffer |
| author_facet | Maike Garbade Selina Kappler Jenny Eglinsky Heinz Kindler Rita Rosner Cedric Sachser Elisa Pfeiffer |
| author_sort | Maike Garbade |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Unaccompanied young refugees (UYRs) are exposed to numerous potentially traumatizing events and post-migration stressors before, during, and after migration. These adverse experiences may affect their mental health and their quality of life. Consequently, this study aimed to focus on the quality of life of UYRs and identify factors that may influence it. Methods Potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and posttraumatic stress symptoms (CATS-2), depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), anxiety symptoms (GAD-7), as well as post-migration stressors (DSSYR) and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) were assessed in N = 158 UYRs (M Age = 16.92, SD Age = 1.41, 84.2% male) residing in different child welfare facilities in Germany. Serial mediation models were used to examine the influence of the above-mentioned factors on quality of life. Results UYRs reported a mean of 6.18 (SD = 3.27) PTEs and 9.72 (SD = 4.49) post-migration stressors. The average quality of life ranged between M = 57.72 (SD = 16.46) for environmental quality of life to M = 66.39 (SD = 20.71) for social quality of life. PTEs significantly reduced the reported physical (b = -1.78, p <.001), psychological (b = -1.15, p =.025), and social quality of life (b = -1.98, p <.001) of UYRs. However, these direct effects were mediated by post-migration stressors alone and in series with mental distress. Conclusions The quality of life of UYRs was not only associated with traumatic experiences but also with post-migration stressors and mental distress. Quality of life captures additional aspects of well-being and therefore, psychosocial care should not only address mental distress but also consider quality of life to achieve a sustainable improvement in the well-being of UYRs. Changes at the political-structural level, aiming to reduce post-migration stressors, could potentially improve the quality of life of UYRs. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00017453. Registered on December 11, 2019. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6003a0731eaa4471b26c882d562d9e88 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-6003a0731eaa4471b26c882d562d9e882025-08-20T03:22:11ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2025-05-0125111410.1186/s12888-025-06975-1Quality of life in unaccompanied young refugees: the role of traumatic events, post-migration stressors and mental distressMaike Garbade0Selina Kappler1Jenny Eglinsky2Heinz Kindler3Rita Rosner4Cedric Sachser5Elisa Pfeiffer6Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, Ulm UniversityGerman Youth InstituteDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, Ulm UniversityGerman Youth InstituteDepartment of Clinical and Biological Psychology, Catholic University Eichstätt-IngolstadtDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, Ulm UniversityDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, Ulm UniversityAbstract Background Unaccompanied young refugees (UYRs) are exposed to numerous potentially traumatizing events and post-migration stressors before, during, and after migration. These adverse experiences may affect their mental health and their quality of life. Consequently, this study aimed to focus on the quality of life of UYRs and identify factors that may influence it. Methods Potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and posttraumatic stress symptoms (CATS-2), depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), anxiety symptoms (GAD-7), as well as post-migration stressors (DSSYR) and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) were assessed in N = 158 UYRs (M Age = 16.92, SD Age = 1.41, 84.2% male) residing in different child welfare facilities in Germany. Serial mediation models were used to examine the influence of the above-mentioned factors on quality of life. Results UYRs reported a mean of 6.18 (SD = 3.27) PTEs and 9.72 (SD = 4.49) post-migration stressors. The average quality of life ranged between M = 57.72 (SD = 16.46) for environmental quality of life to M = 66.39 (SD = 20.71) for social quality of life. PTEs significantly reduced the reported physical (b = -1.78, p <.001), psychological (b = -1.15, p =.025), and social quality of life (b = -1.98, p <.001) of UYRs. However, these direct effects were mediated by post-migration stressors alone and in series with mental distress. Conclusions The quality of life of UYRs was not only associated with traumatic experiences but also with post-migration stressors and mental distress. Quality of life captures additional aspects of well-being and therefore, psychosocial care should not only address mental distress but also consider quality of life to achieve a sustainable improvement in the well-being of UYRs. Changes at the political-structural level, aiming to reduce post-migration stressors, could potentially improve the quality of life of UYRs. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00017453. Registered on December 11, 2019.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06975-1Quality of lifeMental distressPost-migration stressorsPost-traumatic stress disorderDaily stressorsUnaccompanied young refugees |
| spellingShingle | Maike Garbade Selina Kappler Jenny Eglinsky Heinz Kindler Rita Rosner Cedric Sachser Elisa Pfeiffer Quality of life in unaccompanied young refugees: the role of traumatic events, post-migration stressors and mental distress BMC Psychiatry Quality of life Mental distress Post-migration stressors Post-traumatic stress disorder Daily stressors Unaccompanied young refugees |
| title | Quality of life in unaccompanied young refugees: the role of traumatic events, post-migration stressors and mental distress |
| title_full | Quality of life in unaccompanied young refugees: the role of traumatic events, post-migration stressors and mental distress |
| title_fullStr | Quality of life in unaccompanied young refugees: the role of traumatic events, post-migration stressors and mental distress |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quality of life in unaccompanied young refugees: the role of traumatic events, post-migration stressors and mental distress |
| title_short | Quality of life in unaccompanied young refugees: the role of traumatic events, post-migration stressors and mental distress |
| title_sort | quality of life in unaccompanied young refugees the role of traumatic events post migration stressors and mental distress |
| topic | Quality of life Mental distress Post-migration stressors Post-traumatic stress disorder Daily stressors Unaccompanied young refugees |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06975-1 |
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