Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Forskningsveien 3A, 0373, Oslo, Norway.
Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, Gullhaugveien 1-3, Nydalen, Oslo, Norway.
Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2019 Dec;28(12):1671-1682. doi: 10.1007/s00787-019-01340-6. Epub 2019 Apr 19.
Unaccompanied refugee minors are a particularly vulnerable group. The aim of this study is to increase our knowledge about possible pathways to well-being and integration for unaccompanied refugee minors as they strive to establish new lives in a host county. The present study followed a group of youth who fled to Norway without their caregivers at three time points; 6 months (n = 95; M age = 13.8, 80% boys), 2 years (n = 78; M age = 16.5, 83% boys), and 5 years (n = 47; M age 20.0, 83% boys) after arrival. Linear mixed effects models were used to assess whether age, gender, and trauma exposure prior to arrival were associated with levels and changes in symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS), depression, anxiety, and externalizing symptoms over time. Regression analyses were conducted to examine whether daily hassles, perceived social support, and new trauma experiences predict PTS, internalization, externalization, and somatization. The mean levels of depression had decreased significantly at 5 years, but mean levels of anxiety, PTS, and externalizing symptoms did not. Females and severely trauma exposed had higher levels of symptoms. Higher age was associated with less change in symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress over time. Five years after arrival, many still experienced clinical levels of mental health problems, and level of daily hassles was an important predictor. Support may be needed not only at arrival to handle mental health problems in general and posttraumatic stress in particular, but also after resettlement. Help to manage daily hassles may be especially important to ensure well-being and integration.
孤身难民未成年人是一个特别脆弱的群体。本研究旨在增进我们对于孤身难民未成年人在努力于东道国建立新生活的过程中实现幸福和融入的可能途径的了解。本研究跟踪了一组在没有照顾者的情况下逃往挪威的青年，在三个时间点进行了研究：6 个月（n=95；M 年龄=13.8，80%男孩）、2 年（n=78；M 年龄=16.5，83%男孩）和 5 年后（n=47；M 年龄 20.0，83%男孩）。线性混合效应模型用于评估年龄、性别和到达前的创伤暴露与创伤后应激（PTS）、抑郁、焦虑和外化症状的水平和变化是否相关。回归分析用于检验日常困扰、感知社会支持和新的创伤经历是否可以预测 PTS、内化、外化和躯体化。5 年后，抑郁的平均水平显著下降，但焦虑、PTS 和外化症状的平均水平没有下降。女性和严重创伤暴露者的症状水平更高。年龄较高与抑郁和创伤后应激症状随时间变化较小有关。到达 5 年后，许多人仍经历着临床水平的心理健康问题，日常困扰的水平是一个重要的预测因素。不仅在到达时需要支持，以处理一般心理健康问题和特别是创伤后应激问题，而且在重新安置后也需要支持。帮助管理日常困扰可能对确保幸福感和融入感特别重要。
