2020
DOI: 10.1177/0004867420967427
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Mechanisms underlying the mental health impact of family separation on resettled refugees

Abstract: Objective: Many refugees experience prolonged separation from family members, which research suggests has adverse effects on mental health and post-displacement outcomes in refugee populations. We examine mental health differences in refugees separated and not separated from their families, and key post-migration factors and cultural mechanisms that may underlie this impact. Methods: A sample of 1085 refugees resettled in Australia, of which 23.3% were separated from all of their immediate family, took part in… Show more

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Cited by 24 publications
(29 citation statements)
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“…While refugees were concerned with being personally infected, they also demonstrated high levels of fear for family and worry about infecting others. This might reflect the fact that many refugees come from collectivistic cultural backgrounds, which cultivate a sense of self that is interdependent with others, particularly their families (Liddell et al, 2021 ). High prevalence of this particular stressor may also reflect the fact that many refugees may be concerned about their family members living in their home countries or other contexts (e.g.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
See 1 more Smart Citation
“…While refugees were concerned with being personally infected, they also demonstrated high levels of fear for family and worry about infecting others. This might reflect the fact that many refugees come from collectivistic cultural backgrounds, which cultivate a sense of self that is interdependent with others, particularly their families (Liddell et al, 2021 ). High prevalence of this particular stressor may also reflect the fact that many refugees may be concerned about their family members living in their home countries or other contexts (e.g.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Indeed, factors that contribute to increased social inclusion have been associated with stronger psychological adaptation in refugees settled in Germany (von Haumeder, Ghafoori, & Retailleau, 2019 ). The combination of pre-existing isolation, elevated depression symptoms which engenders social withdrawal (Nickerson et al, 2019 ), the inability to engage in crucial social-based coping strategies due to COVID-19 restrictions and ongoing separation from family (Liddell et al, 2021 ), may have particularly potent consequences for the mental health and functioning in refugee populations during COVID-19.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…, 2013 ), an effect that is independent from overall trauma exposure ( Miller et al. , 2018 ; Liddell et al. , 2021 ).…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 98%
“…Firstly, we highlight the ability of mentoring to provide companionship and social support to those people who were experiencing their rooting process alone. Lack of social support and separation from family members were aspects that, as different authors have highlighted [45], generate discomfort in the mental health of refugees and asylum seekers, mainly because of feelings of isolation and discriminatory or exclusionary experiences in the new environment. The young asylum seekers in this study highlight how the presence of mentors in their lives generated a sense of "family" or, at least, meant a safe space in which to share an activity that allowed them to put aside concerns related to the migratory process they were experiencing and thus reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness.…”
Section: Impact Of Mentoring On Menteesmentioning
confidence: 99%