ABSTRACT
While there is a growing literature about mental health problems among unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee minors (URMs), far less is known about their wellbeing. Such information is important as a subjective sense of wellbeing is associated with a variety of positive health and psychosocial outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine life satisfaction and the association with traumatic events, daily hassles, and asylum status among URMs in Norway. We collected self-report questionnaire data from URMs living in Norway (n = 173, 90.80% male, 71.1% from Afghanistan). Mean age was 16.62 (SD = 1.74) years, and they reported clinically relevant post-traumatic stress symptoms. We explored variation in life satisfaction, URM-specific daily hassles and traumatic events. We also investigated a mediation model, in which we assumed that daily hassles mediated the association between traumatic events and life satisfaction. The participants reported low life satisfaction (M = 4.28, SD = 2.90, 0-10 scale). A negative outcome of the asylum process and URM-specific daily hassles were associated with reduced life satisfaction. URM-specific daily hassles accounted for the relation between traumatic events and life satisfaction. The youth had been exposed to several traumatic events yet the effect of these on life satisfaction appeared indirect, via an increase in URM-specific daily hassles. Reducing the number of, or help URM cope with, URM-specific daily hassles may increase their life satisfaction.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee minors report low life satisfaction and high levels of mental health problems, nevertheless they often do not seek or receive help for their problems. Teaching Recovery Techniques (TRT) is a low-threshold, five sessions intervention developed to reduce distressing war- and disaster-related trauma reactions among children and youth. In this study, we investigate if TRT can contribute to increased life satisfaction among unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee minors. METHODS: Asylum-seeking and resettled unaccompanied minors participated in TRT carried out in 15 locations throughout Norway, n = 147, mean age = 16.61 (SD = 1.80), 88% boys, and 67% from Afghanistan. Life satisfaction was measured by the Cantril Ladder before the intervention, and two- and eight weeks post-intervention. We also included indices of intervention compliance and contextual variables, such as asylum status. We applied a pre- and post-intervention design with linear mixed model analyses to investigate change in life satisfaction. RESULTS: Life satisfaction significantly increased from pre- to post- intervention, but not for youth whose asylum application had been rejected or who were still awaiting a decision. Indices of intervention compliance were associated with an increase in life satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: TRT is a potential useful intervention to enhance life satisfaction among unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee minors and can be a measure to support positive development among youth at risk for mental health problems. However, TRT initiatives should consider the participant's stage of asylum process, because harsh immigration policies may overburden the coping capacity. Without further adaptation, TRT seems most useful for youth granted residence. The manual has been revised to include asylum-related stressors. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (16/54,571, registered 30.01.2019).
