Psychological distress and anxiety in Arab refugees and migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with various psychological stressors due to health-related, social, economic, and individual consequences, especially for minority groups such as refugees and other migrants who live in unstable conditions and have lost their social support groups. The aim of this study was to explore the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on this specific population in Germany.This study used a mixed-method approach. A total of 85 migrants took part in an online survey in Germany from April to July 2020. The questionnaire included demographic information and measures of psychological distress, anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as risk and protective factors for psychological health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi-structured interviews with 10 refugees were conducted between May and June 2020. In our sample, 54.5% expressed fear of being infected with COVID-19. Participants spent several hours per day thinking about COVID-19 ( M = 3.13 hours). Psychological and social determinants of mental health showed stronger associations with anxiety regarding COVID-19 than experiences with the disease. Interviews showed that especially for refugees with limited information regarding access to medical treatment, the pandemic increased already-existing psychological symptoms and worries about their families back home and reminded them of their flight from their home country to Europe. The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with psychological distress, anxiety, and depression in refugees and migrants in Germany. Information on where to get medical treatment, if needed, is of utmost importance to this population group, in addition to other strategies such as maintaining a healthy lifestyle and social contacts, and acceptance of strategies to cope with anxiety and negative emotions.

Global migration: Moral, political and mental health challenges

“…The global COVID-19 pandemic heightened anxiety and health concerns for many people (Asmundson & Taylor, 2020); however, refugees and other migrants have faced additional challenges owing to economic impacts, discrimination, and limited access to resources (Crouzet et al, 2022;Spiritus-Beerden et al, 2021;World Health Organization, 2020). In a mixedmethods study of Arab refugees in Germany, Abi Jumaa et al (2023) found that the pandemic and its consequences aggravated pre-existing psychological distress among refugees and reminded some participants of previous stressors in their home countries and their forced migration. Refugees had limited information on where to get clinical care for COVID infection and were dependent on interpreters for access to services.…”