Perceiving refugees as threats may backfire on one’s health: Relations with intercultural antecedents and psychological distress among Germans

Abstract

In the recent years, research on the conditions, under which members of the host countries such as Germany perceive refugees as threatening and respond with negative attitudes, has increased. However, little attention has been given to the implications that subjective perceptions of threat among the host community may have for their own psychological health. Using integrated threat theory, the current study examined the relationships between perceived threats, person-centered antecedents in intercultural settings, and psychological distress among Germans, who reflected on incoming refugees. Using a survey company, a sample (N = 1000) was recruited, which matched the German census regarding central demographics. Participants completed a cross-sectional online survey with validated self-report measures. Assessments covered four perceived threat types (intergroup anxiety, symbolic and realistic threat, negative stereotypes), person-related antecedents (social identity as German, quantity and quality of prior intercultural contact), and psychological distress. Applying structural equation modeling, we found that high social identification as German was related to greater perceptions of symbolic/realistic threat, stronger negative stereotypes and to more intergroup anxiety. Vice versa, high quality of prior intercultural contact experiences was associated with a decrease of all threat types. The quantity of prior intercultural contact showed almost no relations to perceived threats. In terms of indirect effects, greater quality of contact predicted less distress, and greater identity as German predicted more distress, both via symbolic/realistic threat and intergroup anxiety. Taken together, perceiving refugees as a threatening outgroup may signify a self-harming risk, while high quality of intercultural relations may indirectly enhance health.

Germans’ awareness of refugees’ information barriers regarding health care access: a cross-sectional study

“…Yet, the model and its core constructs need to be redefined in order to explore host society members’ awareness of the information barriers which refugees face to accessing health care. As a starting point, Germans need to be able to take the perspective of refugees who may have suffered multiple stressful experiences during refuge, arrival and resettlement, resulting in severe emotional disturbances that require appropriate treatment [ 3 – 6 ]. Therefore, with regard to empathy, we specifically examined cognitive empathy in our study to assess whether Germans recognize refugees’ socio-emotional support needs as a form of perspective-taking [ 25 ].…”

“…Therefore, with regard to empathy, we specifically examined cognitive empathy in our study to assess whether Germans recognize refugees’ socio-emotional support needs as a form of perspective-taking [ 25 ]. The vast majority of receiving society members have no or at most little contact with refugees and thus most likely could not develop emotional empathy [ 6 , 27 ].…”

“…In addition to redefine the three core constructs, we suggest adapting the EAA-model by including awareness regarding access barriers that refugees face as a prerequisite for prosocial action. As Germans so far reported low to no contact with refugees [ 6 ], actual helping action cannot be measured in a valid way. However, prior research suggests that awareness of access barriers to health care can be seen as an important precondition to the motivation of providing informational support [ 13 , 28 ].…”

“…However, research on contact between refugees and members of the receiving society is sparse [ 18 ], likely because the vast majority of adults in the receiving society report having little or no contact with refugees [ 27 ]. Therefore, we decided to assess previous positive intercultural contact experiences with people from different cultural backgrounds in general, as positive experiences with one socio-cultural outgroup are positively linked to empathy, supportive attitudes, awareness, and intentions to help other socio-cultural outgroups [ 6 , 18 ].…”

“…Such high numbers of refugees pose a challenge for the health care infrastructure of receiving countries such as Germany, as refugees face multiple stressors throughout the process of arriving and resettlement that require access to adequate health care. Aside from traumatic experiences during the flight, especially social stressors such as a lack of support in daily life, rejection or even discrimination can lead to multiple psychological issues that make it necessary to receive treatment [ 3 – 6 ]. In terms of a downward spiral, refugees’ health may further deteriorate if their health care needs are met insufficiently [ 7 ].…”