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Living Conditions and the Mental Health and Well-being of Refugees : Evidence from a Large-Scale German Survey

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  • Walther, Lena
  • Fuchs, Lukas M.
  • Schupp, Jürgen
  • Scheve, Christian von

Abstract

Refugees are at an increased risk of mental health problems and low subjective well-being. Living circumstances in the host country are thought to play a vital role in shaping these health outcomes, which, in turn, are prerequisites for successful integration. Using data from a representative survey of 4325 adult refugees who arrived in Germany between 2013 and 2016, we investigated how different living conditions, especially those subject to integration policies, are associated with psychological distress and life satisfaction using linear regression models. Our findings show that an uncertain legal status, separation from family, and living in refugee housing facilities are related to higher levels of distress and decreased life satisfaction. Being employed, contact to members of the host society, and better host country language skills, by contrast, are related to reduced distress and higher levels of life satisfaction. These associations should inform decision making in a highly contested policy area.

Suggested Citation

  • Walther, Lena & Fuchs, Lukas M. & Schupp, Jürgen & Scheve, Christian von, 2020. "Living Conditions and the Mental Health and Well-being of Refugees : Evidence from a Large-Scale German Survey," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 22, pages 903-913.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:espost:232511
    DOI: 10.1007/s10903-019-00968-5
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    2. Jaschke Philipp & Sulin Sardoschau & Marco Tabellini, 2021. "Scared Straight? Threat and Assimilation of Refugees in Germany," RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series 2136, Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF Berlin) - Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM).
    3. Alfonso Urzúa & Diego Henríquez & Alejandra Caqueo-Urízar & Rodrigo Landabur, 2021. "Ethnic Identity and Collective Self-Esteem Mediate the Effect of Anxiety and Depression on Quality of Life in a Migrant Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Löbel, Lea-Maria & Jacobsen, Jannes, 2021. "Waiting for kin: a longitudinal study of family reunification and refugee mental health in Germany," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 47(13).
    5. Jacobsen, Jannes & Krieger, Magdalena & Schikora, Felicitas & Schupp, Jürgen, 2021. "Growing Potentials for Migration Research using the German Socio-Economic Panel Study," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 241(4), pages 527-549.
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    9. Bianca Della Rocca & Rosaria Bello & Marco Carbone & Pasquale Pezzella & Claudia Toni & Gaia Sampogna & Lorenzo Tarsitani & Mario Luciano & Andrea Fiorillo, 2024. "Promoting mental health and preventing mental health problems in child and adolescent refugees and asylum seekers: A systematic review on psychosocial interventions," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 70(4), pages 653-666, June.
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    12. Eva Spiritus-Beerden & An Verelst & Ines Devlieger & Nina Langer Primdahl & Fábio Botelho Guedes & Antonio Chiarenza & Stephanie De Maesschalck & Natalie Durbeej & Rocío Garrido & Margarida Gaspar de , 2021. "Mental Health of Refugees and Migrants during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Experienced Discrimination and Daily Stressors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-14, June.
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    14. Indranil Sahoo & Elizabeth Amona & Miriam Kuttikat & David Chan, 2024. "Enhancing Mental Health Predictions: A Gradient Boosted Model for Sri Lankan Camp Refugees," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-14, May.
    15. Sebastian Leitner, 2023. "Development of Mental Distress of Refugees in Austria During their Economic and Social Integration in 2017-2022," wiiw Working Papers 233, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw.
    16. Aylin Demirli Yıldız & Dagmar Strohmeier, 2024. "The Role of Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms and Post Migration Life Difficulties for Future Aspirations of Iraqi and Syrian Asylum Seekers," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(2), pages 21582440241, April.
    17. Anna Oleńczuk-Paszel & Agnieszka Sompolska-Rzechuła, 2025. "Housing Conditions and the Quality of Life of the Populations of the European Union Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-25, February.

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