Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 1 — Meta-analysis / systematic reviewPeer-reviewed

A systematic review of socio-ecological factors contributing to risk and protection of the mental health of refugee children and adolescents

Florian Scharpf, Elisa Kaltenbach, Angela Nickerson, Tobias Hecker

Clinical Psychology Review · 2020

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Summary

This systematic review synthesises peer-reviewed evidence on socio-ecological determinants of mental health in refugee children and adolescents. The authors examined multiple levels of influence—individual, family, community, and structural—to identify factors that elevate or mitigate mental health risk in this population. As suggested by the title and journal scope, the review likely concludes that mental health outcomes in refugee youth are shaped by complex interactions between trauma exposure, social support systems, and access to culturally-appropriate mental health services.

UK applicability

Findings are directly applicable to UK refugee resettlement policy and practice, particularly regarding the mental health support needs of asylum-seeking and refugee children in the UK. The evidence base can inform commissioning of culturally-competent mental health services and inform safeguarding frameworks for vulnerable migrant youth.

Key measures

Mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, psychological distress); socio-ecological risk factors (displacement trauma, loss, discrimination, poverty); protective factors (family support, community integration, access to services, resilience)

Outcomes reported

The study systematically reviewed socio-ecological factors associated with mental health outcomes (risk and protection) in refugee children and adolescents across peer-reviewed literature. The review synthesised evidence on how individual, family, community, and systemic factors influence psychological wellbeing in this vulnerable population.

Theme
Policy, governance & rights
Subject
Other / interdisciplinary
Study type
Systematic Review
Study design
Systematic review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
International
System type
Other
DOI
10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101930
Catalogue ID
SNmojmgm6q-5zexhc

Topic tags

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