Hornfeck Fabienne, Garbade Maike, Kappler Selina, Rosner Rita, Pfeiffer Elisa, Sachser Cedric, Kindler Heinz
German Youth Institute, Munich, Germany.
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2025 Mar;34(3):1051-1062. doi: 10.1007/s00787-024-02535-2. Epub 2024 Jul 31.
Unaccompanied young refugees (UYRs) are at an elevated risk of continuing psychological distress, including posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), depression, and anxiety. The post-arrival situation in a host country plays an important role in increasing or reducing mental health risks for UYRs. This study aimed to examine the trajectory of psychological distress and post-migration factors experienced by UYRs in Germany with five assessments every six months over a two-year period.Standardised self-report questionnaires were used to assess PTSS (CATS-2), depression (PHQ-9), and anxiety (GAD-7) symptoms. Material and social stressors (DSSYR), sociocultural adjustment (BSAS), frequency of contact with family members, and distress regarding asylum status were included as post-migration factors. N = 131 UYRs (M = 17.04; SD = 1.46; 81.1% male) living in residential care facilities in Germany were included in this study. There was a significant loss to follow up with n = 77 after 12 months at T2 (59% attrition), and n = 37 after 24 months at T4 (28% attrition).At baseline, clinically relevant symptom scores were found in 48.1% for PTSS, 42.0% for depression, and 22.9% for anxiety. Analysis of latent growth curve models revealed that the symptom severity of depression and anxiety did not change substantially over one year, but PTSS showed a significant decline. The number of traumatic events affected initial levels of mental health problems but not their trajectory over time. The impact of post-migration factors varied between measurement points and outcome measures and did not result in a homogeneous pattern.Despite limitations, this study demonstrated the persistence of high levels of psychological distress in UYRs. Effective interventions are required at an early stage to prevent chronic trajectories and support systems should adapt to constantly changing circumstances.Trial registration number/date of registration: DRKS00017453/11th December 2019.
无人陪伴的年轻难民（UYRs）持续遭受心理困扰的风险较高，包括创伤后应激症状（PTSS）、抑郁和焦虑。东道国的入境后情况在增加或降低UYRs的心理健康风险方面起着重要作用。本研究旨在通过在两年内每六个月进行五次评估，考察德国UYRs的心理困扰轨迹和移民后经历的因素。使用标准化的自我报告问卷来评估PTSS（CATS - 2）、抑郁（PHQ - 9）和焦虑（GAD - 7）症状。物质和社会压力源（DSSYR）、社会文化适应（BSAS）、与家庭成员的联系频率以及对庇护状态的困扰被纳入作为移民后因素。本研究纳入了居住在德国寄养机构的131名UYRs（M = 17.04；SD = 1.46；81.1%为男性）。在T2（12个月后）有77人失访（失访率59%），在T4（24个月后）有37人失访（失访率28%），随访损失显著。在基线时，PTSS的临床相关症状得分在48.1%的人中出现，抑郁为42.0%，焦虑为22.9%。潜在增长曲线模型分析显示，抑郁和焦虑的症状严重程度在一年内没有显著变化，但PTSS有显著下降。创伤事件的数量影响心理健康问题的初始水平，但不影响其随时间的轨迹。移民后因素的影响在测量点和结果指标之间有所不同，并未形成统一模式。尽管存在局限性，但本研究表明UYRs中高水平心理困扰持续存在。需要在早期阶段采取有效的干预措施来预防慢性轨迹，支持系统应适应不断变化的情况。试验注册号/注册日期：DRKS00017453/2019年12月11日。
