Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Section for Health Equity Studies & Migration, Department of General Practice and Health Services Research, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Sep 5;19(17):11099. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191711099.
Mental health and social resilience play a significant role in refugees' adaptation during the resettlement process in the host country. Maintaining good mental wellbeing helps the refugees to respond to stressful experiences with healthy life choices. This study aimed to explore the mental wellbeing and social resilience of Eritrean refugees living in Germany and to identify social conditions and enablers to foster adaptation. This study employs a qualitative approach with a semi-structured, in-depth interview data collection method. Informants were identified among mostly young adult refugees living in Heidelberg, Germany, with a migration history of 3-6 years. In total, 15 informants were recruited through snowball sampling. Data were sorted and analyzed using the five pillars of the Adaptation and Development after Persecution and Trauma (ADAPT) model. The findings suggest that Eritrean refugees experienced psychological distress after resettlement in Germany; however, with time, their mental health improved. The study revealed conditions that were experienced as hindrances, as well as ones that were considered to be resources of positive mental wellbeing and social resilience for resettled refugees. Resettlement challenges described by the participants were the language barrier, discrimination, unemployment, insecure residence status, loss of family and friends, conflict within the diaspora community, and isolation. The main sources of mental wellbeing and social resilience include the feeling of being welcomed by local communities, access to social services, adopting new relationships, and educational opportunities. These experiences encouraged refugees to have a favorable view of their lives and futures and were also found to facilitate better integration and adaptation. Understanding refugee mental wellbeing and social resilience requires a multidimensional perspective. Eritrean refugees living in Germany have experienced and are still experiencing resettlement challenges, such as, for example, loss of family and friends, negative perception of the German system, loss of past achievements, or unemployment. However, they have developed adaptive and resilience mechanisms, as well, such as seeing an opportunity for a better life, adopting new roles, and accepting Germany as a "second home". In addressing those issues reported by the refugees as hindrances, these could be turned into sources of mental wellbeing and resilience.
心理健康和社会适应力在难民重新融入安置国家的过程中扮演着重要角色。保持良好的心理健康有助于难民以健康的生活选择应对压力。本研究旨在探索生活在德国的厄立特里亚难民的心理健康和社会适应力,并确定促进适应的社会条件和促进因素。本研究采用定性方法,采用半结构化、深入访谈的方法收集数据。信息提供者是在德国海德堡生活的、有 3-6 年移民史的青年难民。总共通过滚雪球抽样招募了 15 名信息提供者。使用迫害和创伤后适应和发展(ADAPT)模型的五个支柱对数据进行排序和分析。研究结果表明,厄立特里亚难民在德国重新安置后经历了心理困扰;然而,随着时间的推移,他们的心理健康状况有所改善。研究揭示了被视为阻碍因素的条件,以及被认为是积极心理健康和社会适应力资源的条件。参与者描述的重新安置挑战包括语言障碍、歧视、失业、居住身份不稳定、失去家人和朋友、侨民社区内部冲突以及孤立。心理健康和社会适应力的主要来源包括被当地社区欢迎的感觉、获得社会服务、建立新关系和教育机会。这些经历鼓励难民对自己的生活和未来持乐观态度,也有助于更好地融入和适应。理解难民的心理健康和社会适应力需要从多维角度出发。生活在德国的厄立特里亚难民经历并仍在经历重新安置挑战,例如失去家人和朋友、对德国系统的负面看法、失去过去的成就或失业。然而,他们也发展了适应和恢复机制,例如看到更好生活的机会、扮演新角色、将德国视为“第二个家”。在解决难民报告的阻碍问题时,这些问题可以转化为心理健康和适应力的来源。