Mental health and quality of life among asylum seekers and refugees living in refugee housing facilities in Sweden

Bibliographic Data

ID23356746
AuthorsAnna Leiler (0000-0003-1736-8939, Mid Sweden University, corresponding author), Anna Bjärtå (0000-0003-0011-7770, Mid Sweden University), Johanna Ekdahl (0000-0003-3293-6391, Mid Sweden University), Elisabet Wasteson (0000-0002-5314-0336, Mid Sweden University)
Year2019
Volume54
Issue5
Pages543-551
Publication date2019-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0933-7954 • E-ISSN: 1433-9285
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s00127-018-1651-6
PMID30580381
OpenAlexW2906114080
LanguageEN
Citations received66
References cited40

INTRODUCTION: In 2015, there was a high influx of refugees to Sweden, creating an extreme situation where individuals were forced to remain in large housing facilities for long periods. The present study aims to describe the mental health and quality of life of these individuals. METHODS: Data, based on 510 individuals, were obtained by means of a questionnaire at open screenings conducted at or nearby refugee housing facilities. Of the participating refugees, 367 were asylum seekers and 143 had received a residence permit but were still awaiting a more permanent housing solution. The questionnaire included measures of depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), symptoms of anxiety (GAD-7), risk of having post-traumatic stress disorder (PC-PTSD), and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF). RESULTS: Of the total sample, 56-58.4% reported clinically significant levels of symptoms of depression, anxiety and risk of having PTSD. Prevalence estimates were higher among asylum seekers than among those who had received their residence permit. Quality of life was generally rated below population norms and correlated negatively with mental health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals residing in refugee housing facilities show high levels of psychological distress and rate their quality of life as low. Asylum seekers score higher than those having received a residence permit. These results are troublesome since the wait time for asylum decisions has lengthened considerably after 2015. The results of the present study calls for the urgency of societal actions to shorten the asylum process and improve conditions at the housing facilities.

Anxiety · Distress · Environmental health · Geography · Mental health · Population · Psychiatry · Quality of life (healthcare) · Refugee · Residence · Sociology · Clinical Psychology · Demography · Education and experiences of immigrants and refugees · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Nursing · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research · Psychology · Gerontology