Wen Chen1,2,3, Shuxian Wu1,2, Li Ling1,2, Andre M N Renzaho3. 1. Faculty of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, China. 2. Sun Yat-sen Center for Migrant Health Policy, SunYat-sen University, China. 3. Humanitarian and Development Research Initiative, School of Social Science and Psychology, Western Sydney University, New South Wales.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the impacts of social integration and loneliness on the mental health of humanitarian migrants (HMs) in Australia over time. METHODS: A total of 1,723 HMs who held permanent visas from the first to third waves (2013-2016) of a longitudinal study in Australia (Building a New Life in Australia) were included in the study. Dependent variables included poor general health, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and severe mental illness (SMI). Predictors were social integration stressors and loneliness. We used generalised linear mixed models to assess impacts of the changing status of social integration and loneliness on dependent variables over time. RESULTS: HMs with increased social integration stressors reported poor general health (aOR:1.56, 95%CI:1.19-2.03); PTSD (aOR:1.67; 95%CI: 1.32-2.13); and SMI (aOR: 1.46; 95%CI: 1.15-1.86) over time when compared to those without stressors. Increased loneliness during resettlement was also associated with poor general health (aOR: 1.56; 95%CI:1.28-1.91); PTSD (aOR: 1.57; 95%CI: 1.28-1.93) and SMI (aOR: 1.59; 95%CI: 1.31-1.94). HMs who reported overcoming loneliness (aOR:1.50, 95%CI: 1.24-1.83 for SMI and aOR:1.51; 95%CI: 1.22-1.86 for PTSD) and persistent loneliness (aOR:1.99; 95%CI: 1.51-2.61 for SMI) reported poorer mental health over time than those who did not report loneliness. Implications for public health: Culturally competent settlement services addressing social integration stressors and loneliness are required to improve the mental health of humanitarian migrants.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the impacts of social integration and loneliness on the mental health of humanitarian migrants (HMs) in Australia over time. METHODS: A total of 1,723 HMs who held permanent visas from the first to third waves (2013-2016) of a longitudinal study in Australia (Building a New Life in Australia) were included in the study. Dependent variables included poor general health, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and severe mental illness (SMI). Predictors were social integration stressors and loneliness. We used generalised linear mixed models to assess impacts of the changing status of social integration and loneliness on dependent variables over time. RESULTS: HMs with increased social integration stressors reported poor general health (aOR:1.56, 95%CI:1.19-2.03); PTSD (aOR:1.67; 95%CI: 1.32-2.13); and SMI (aOR: 1.46; 95%CI: 1.15-1.86) over time when compared to those without stressors. Increased loneliness during resettlement was also associated with poor general health (aOR: 1.56; 95%CI:1.28-1.91); PTSD (aOR: 1.57; 95%CI: 1.28-1.93) and SMI (aOR: 1.59; 95%CI: 1.31-1.94). HMs who reported overcoming loneliness (aOR:1.50, 95%CI: 1.24-1.83 for SMI and aOR:1.51; 95%CI: 1.22-1.86 for PTSD) and persistent loneliness (aOR:1.99; 95%CI: 1.51-2.61 for SMI) reported poorer mental health over time than those who did not report loneliness. Implications for public health: Culturally competent settlement services addressing social integration stressors and loneliness are required to improve the mental health of humanitarian migrants.
Authors: Benoît Mougenot; Elard Amaya; Edward Mezones-Holguin; Alfonso J Rodriguez-Morales; Báltica Cabieses Journal: Global Health Date: 2021-01-07 Impact factor: 4.185
Authors: Meng Zheng; Feng Chen; Yan Pan; Di Kong; Andre M N Renzaho; Berhe W Sahle; Rashidul Alam Mahumud; Li Ling; Wen Chen Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-08-16 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Ridwanul Amin; Syed Rahman; Thomas E Dorner; Emma Björkenstam; Magnus Helgesson; Marie L Norredam; Marit Sijbrandij; Cansu Alozkan Sever; Ellenor Mittendorfer-Rutz Journal: Eur J Public Health Date: 2020-12-11 Impact factor: 3.367