The aim of the present study was to assess and understand the long-term trajectory of psychological problems among young Middle Eastern refugees in Denmark. Participants were 131 young refugees from the Middle East (76 girls, 55 boys; mean age = 15.3 years) from 67 families. They were assessed first on arrival in Denmark in 1992-1993 and again 8-9 years later. The high prevalence of psychological problems at arrival was considerably reduced by the time of follow-up, but it was still somewhat higher than what has been found in most community studies using the same assessment tools. Groups of children differed in showing low levels of symptoms at arrival that were stable (spared) or increased (reacting) and high levels at arrival that persisted (traumatized) or decreased (adapted). The number of types of traumatic experiences before arrival distinguished the spared and the traumatized young refugees and the number of types of stressful events after arrival the adapted and the traumatized, also after corrections for age, sex, specific traumatic events, parents' education and health, and the social situation of the young refugees. The study emphasizes the importance of environmental factors for healthy long-term adaptation after traumatic experiences related to war and other organized violence.

Montgomery E. Trauma, exile and mental health in young refugees.Objective:  To review evidence of trauma and exile‐related mental health in young refugees from the Middle East.Method:  A review of four empirical studies: i) a qualitative study of 11 children from torture surviving families, ii) a cohort study of 311 3–15‐year‐old asylum‐seeking children, iii) a qualitative study of 14 members of torture surviving families and iv) a follow‐up study of 131 11–23‐year‐old refugees.Results:  The reactions of the children were not necessarily post‐traumatic stress disorder specific. Seventy‐seven per cent suffered from anxiety, sleep disturbance and/or depressed mood at arrival. Sleep disturbance (prevalence 34%) was primarily predicted by a family history of violence. At follow‐up, 25.9% suffered from clinically relevant psychological symptoms. Traumatic experiences before arrival and stressful events in exile predicted internalizing behaviour, witnessing violence and frequent school changes in exile predicted externalizing behaviour. School participation, Danish friends, language proficiency and mother’s education predicted less long‐term psychological problems.Conclusion:  Psychological problems are frequent in refugee children, but the extents are reduced over time in exile. Traumatic experience before arrival is most important for the short‐term reaction of the children while aspects of life in exile are important for the children’s ability to recover from early traumatization.

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