Exploring Social and Financial Hardship, Mental Health Problems and the Role of Social Support in Asylum Seekers Using Structural Equation Modelling

Abstract

Asylum seekers are exposed to a range of social and financial difficulties suggested to adversely impact mental health. Uprooted social networks and living conditions during the asylum seeking process potentially predispose this population to low access to social support. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between social and financial hardship and mental health problems, and assess the potential mediating role of social support among asylum seekers. Cross sectional survey data from a cohort of asylum seekers in Sweden (N = 455) were subjected to structural equation modelling for examining hypothesized pathways between social and financial hardship, common mental health problems (CMHPs) and social support. Fit indices showed adequate to excellent fit of the examined models with CMHPs as the outcome (all CFI ≥ 0.951, RMSEA < 0.05, SRMR < 0.056). CMHPs were positively regressed on social and financial hardship (B = 0.786, S = 0.102, p < 0.001) and negatively regressed on social support (B = −0.103, SE = 0.032, p = 0.001). Social support mediated the association between social and financial hardship and CMHPs (effect estimate = 0.075, 95% CI = 0.032–0.136). The results point to the importance of social and living conditions of asylum seekers and indicate that social support is both socially patterned and may act as a mitigating resource to inform interventions and policies.

Coping in Limbo? The Moderating Role of Coping Strategies in the Relationship between Post-Migration Stress and Well-Being during the Asylum-Seeking Process

“…This study formed part of a larger, overarching study focusing on mental health and well-being among resettled refugees and asylum-seekers in Sweden. Parts of this methods section have therefore been previously published [3,9]. As in the aforementioned studies, the present study had a cross-sectional survey design, and data were obtained from asylum-seekers residing in three large housing facilities in Sweden.…”

“…Consistent with the SEM methodology, the items in the three self-report scales on postmigratory stress, coping and well-being were treated as reflective indicators of underlying latent constructs [49]. Theory and prior studies on refugee populations guided the actual modeling of latent constructs [9,50], with modification indices consulted to improve fit when necessary. The overall aim was to establish theoretically grounded and well-fitted measurement models.…”

“…In addition, a substantial evidence base now exists that portrays the multiple risk factors faced by asylum seekers. These risk factors include pre-and peri-migration trauma, including experiencing or witnessing torture [5,6] and other forms of violence [7], multiple human rights violations and abuses during the flight to Europe, stressors upon arrival in a resettlement country [3,8], as well as a lower levels of social support during the asylum-seeking process [9]. However, considerably less focus has been directed towards the potential for adaptation in this context of trauma and adversity in the form of resilience.…”

Health status of recently arrived asylum seekers in their host country: results of a cross-sectional observational study

“…The study is not restricted to asylum seekers receiving accommodations or consulting at a care center. Also, the inclusions took place less than 21 days after their arrival in the host country in order to have a homogeneous population that would provide an overview of the health status of people when they first arrive in their host country, limiting the collection of pathologies likely to be developed after their arrival, in particular due to their precarious social living conditions [ 25 ].…”

Post-Migration Life Adversity and Mental Health of Refugees and Asylum Seekers: The Mediating Role of Resilience between Perceived Discrimination, Socio-Economic Strains, Structural Strains, and Mental Health

“…Based on the definition of the post-migration life adversity of refugees and asylum seekers, the three adopted and modified subscales are: (1) perceived discrimination; (2) socio-economic strain; and (3) structural strain while living in South Korea as a refugee or asylum seeker. The measurement is a concise, multidimensional self-assessment instrument for the evaluation of post-migration life adversity among refugees and asylum seekers [ 48 ].…”