Mental health and societal challenges among forced migrants of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions

Health professionals’ descriptions and interpretations

Bibliographic Data

ID15099147
AuthorsMaria Gottvall (0000-0002-5837-8263, The Department of Health Sciences, The Swedish Red Cross University, Huddinge, Sweden), Rogers Kissiti (The Department of Health Sciences, The Swedish Red Cross University, Huddinge, Sweden), Ronah Ainembabazi (The Department of Health Sciences, The Swedish Red Cross University, Huddinge, Sweden), Hannah E Bergman (0000-0002-6997-4052, Röda Korsets Högskola), Hannah Bergman (The Department of Health Sciences, The Swedish Red Cross University, Huddinge, Sweden), Anna Eldebo (The Department of Health Sciences, The Swedish Red Cross University, Huddinge, Sweden), Rummage Isaac (The Department of Health Sciences, The Swedish Red Cross University, Huddinge, Sweden), Sumera Yasin (The Department of Health Sciences, The Swedish Red Cross University, Huddinge, Sweden), Maria Jirwe (0000-0003-4570-4047, The Department of Health Sciences, The Swedish Red Cross University, Huddinge, Sweden), Tommy Carlsson (0000-0003-4141-8692, The Department of Health Sciences, The Swedish Red Cross University, Huddinge, Sweden, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume26
Issue8
Pages1088-1103
Publication date2024-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCulture Health & Sexuality (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1369-1058 • E-ISSN: 1464-5351
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13691058.2023.2298479
PMID38250794
OpenAlexW4391109678
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited38

The aim of this study was to explore health professionals' descriptions and interpretations of post-migration mental health and societal challenges among forced migrants with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions. Participants representing seven professions were recruited by a combination of convenience, purposive and snowball sampling. Data were collected through focus groups and individual interviews, analysed with systematic text condensation in a collaborative process involving researchers, clinicians and migrants with lived experiences. Participants described a challenging trajectory for migrants, as migrants venture through an uncertain and demanding journey impacting their mental health. Needing to deal with legal requirements, stressful circumstances and normative expectations during the asylum process were highlighted as major challenges, along with exposure to discrimination, violence, abuse and lack of psychosocial safety. Participants described significant psychological distress among migrants, including loneliness and shame. Challenges were also recognised related to exploring, accepting and expressing sexuality and gender. Loneliness and shame are major challenges in need of further attention in research, which could be addressed through the development and evaluation of actions, programmes and interventions to provide peer support

Developmental psychology · Focus group · Loneliness · Mental health · Nonprobability sampling · Population · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Psychosocial · Qualitative research · Shame · Snowball sampling · Sociology · Clinical Psychology · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Migration, Refugees, and Integration · Psychology · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research · Social Psychology

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