Mental health of unaccompanied refugee minors in Europe: A systematic review.
Depression
Mental health
Posttraumatic stress disorder
Unaccompanied asylum seeking children and adolescents
Unaccompanied refugee minors
Journal
Child abuse & neglect
ISSN: 1873-7757
Titre abrégé: Child Abuse Negl
Pays: England
ID NLM: 7801702
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
11 2022
11 2022
Historique:
received:
25
09
2021
revised:
27
08
2022
accepted:
30
08
2022
pubmed:
13
9
2022
medline:
28
9
2022
entrez:
12
9
2022
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Nearly half of the refugee and asylum seeking population in Europe is under the age of 18, and many of these individuals are unaccompanied children and adolescents. The aim of this systematic review is both to summarize findings regarding the prevalence of mental health disorders among unaccompanied refugee minors (URM) in European countries since the last available systematic review (October 2017), and to describe associated risk factors. Five databases were systematically searched for articles published between October 1, 2017 and May 1, 2022. The findings from 23 studies conducted in 9 countries which examined 80,651 child and adolescent URM are explained. Afghanistan was the most common country of origin in the majority of studies and >75 % of the subjects were boys. Most of the studies (N = 13, 56.5 %) assessed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevalence. We found a high prevalence of mental health disorders among URM children and adolescents, which varied considerably between studies, ranging from 4.6 % to 43 % for (PTSD), 2.9 % to 61.6 % for depression, 32.6 % to 38.2 % for anxiety and 4 to14.3 % for behavioral problems. Two studies looking at suicide attempts and deaths, also observed higher rates in URM compared to the host population of the same age. The studies looking at mental health risk factors suggest that levels of social support in the host country, rearing environment, and other factors are associated with psychopathology. Moreover, a meta-analysis of four studies regarding PTSD in URM and accompanied refugee minors (ARM) showed a lower prevalence among ARM: -1.14 (95%CI:-1.56-0.72). PTSD, depression and anxiety are the most prevalent problems among the URM population in Europe. Early intervention in host countries is needed in order to improve mental health outcomes for this vulnerable population and avoid possible neglect.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Nearly half of the refugee and asylum seeking population in Europe is under the age of 18, and many of these individuals are unaccompanied children and adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this systematic review is both to summarize findings regarding the prevalence of mental health disorders among unaccompanied refugee minors (URM) in European countries since the last available systematic review (October 2017), and to describe associated risk factors.
METHODS
Five databases were systematically searched for articles published between October 1, 2017 and May 1, 2022.
RESULTS
The findings from 23 studies conducted in 9 countries which examined 80,651 child and adolescent URM are explained. Afghanistan was the most common country of origin in the majority of studies and >75 % of the subjects were boys. Most of the studies (N = 13, 56.5 %) assessed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevalence. We found a high prevalence of mental health disorders among URM children and adolescents, which varied considerably between studies, ranging from 4.6 % to 43 % for (PTSD), 2.9 % to 61.6 % for depression, 32.6 % to 38.2 % for anxiety and 4 to14.3 % for behavioral problems. Two studies looking at suicide attempts and deaths, also observed higher rates in URM compared to the host population of the same age. The studies looking at mental health risk factors suggest that levels of social support in the host country, rearing environment, and other factors are associated with psychopathology. Moreover, a meta-analysis of four studies regarding PTSD in URM and accompanied refugee minors (ARM) showed a lower prevalence among ARM: -1.14 (95%CI:-1.56-0.72).
CONCLUSIONS
PTSD, depression and anxiety are the most prevalent problems among the URM population in Europe. Early intervention in host countries is needed in order to improve mental health outcomes for this vulnerable population and avoid possible neglect.
Identifiants
pubmed: 36095862
pii: S0145-2134(22)00399-4
doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105865
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Meta-Analysis
Review
Systematic Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
105865Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of competing interest AD has no conflicts of interest to declare. NB has received support to attend conferences from Angelini, Casen, Janssen and Lundbeck. IB has received grants from ISCIII and support to attend conferences or honoraria from Angelini, Janssen and Otsuka-Lundbeck.