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Longitudinal Associations Between Sources of Uncertainty and Mental Health Amongst Resettled Refugees During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

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  • Belinda J. Liddell

    (School of Psychological Sciences, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
    School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia)

  • Stephanie Murphy

    (School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia)

  • Yulisha Byrow

    (School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia)

  • Meaghan O’Donnell

    (Phoenix Australia, University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC 3053, Australia)

  • Vicki Mau

    (Australian Red Cross, Docklands, VIC 3008, Australia)

  • Tadgh McMahon

    (Settlement Services International (SSI), Ashfield and College of Public Health and Medicine, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia)

  • Richard A. Bryant

    (School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia)

  • Philippa Specker

    (School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia)

  • Angela Nickerson

    (School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic may have disproportionately affected forcibly displaced people due to parallel uncertainties such as visa insecurity and family separation. This study explicitly examined whether different sources of uncertainty contributed in specific ways to increased psychological symptoms for refugees during the pandemic. A large cohort of 733 refugees and asylum seekers settled in Australia completed a mental health survey in June 2020 (T1) and 12 months later in June 2021 (T2). Using cross-lagged panel modelling, we tested changes in post-traumatic stress (PTS), depression and anxiety symptoms, visa status, family separation and COVID-19 uncertainty stress, and the contribution of intolerance of uncertainty (trait prospective and inhibitory), controlling for age, sex, trauma exposure, language, and time in Australia. Visa status and family separation stress at T1 predicted increased depression (bidirectional pathways) and PTS symptoms at T2 (unidirectional pathways), respectively. Visa status uncertainty at T1 was also associated with increases in COVID-19 and family separation stress at T2. Intolerance of uncertainty showed limited associations with symptoms and stressors. Findings demonstrate that different forms of refugee uncertainty had specific impacts on psychopathology during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Refugees facing diverse kinds of stress may benefit from individual, community, and policy level support targeted to their specific circumstances and mental health needs during future crises.

Suggested Citation

  • Belinda J. Liddell & Stephanie Murphy & Yulisha Byrow & Meaghan O’Donnell & Vicki Mau & Tadgh McMahon & Richard A. Bryant & Philippa Specker & Angela Nickerson, 2025. "Longitudinal Associations Between Sources of Uncertainty and Mental Health Amongst Resettled Refugees During the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(6), pages 1-18, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:6:p:855-:d:1668226
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zachary Steel & Belinda J Liddell & Catherine R Bateman-Steel & Anthony B Zwi, 2011. "Global Protection and the Health Impact of Migration Interception," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(6), pages 1-5, June.
    2. Elizabeth A. Newnham & April Pearman & Stephanie Olinga-Shannon & Angela Nickerson, 2019. "The mental health effects of visa insecurity for refugees and people seeking asylum: a latent class analysis," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 64(5), pages 763-772, June.
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