Alone, but protected? Effects of social support on mental health of unaccompanied refugee minors.

Unaccompanied refugee minors (URM) are the most vulnerable group of refugees suffering from higher levels of mental health problems. Yet, there is also a group of URM with little or no symptoms or disorders. A major predictor for positive mental health outcomes is the social support network in the post-flight period which has rarely been investigated for the group of URM. The present study analyzes differences between perceived social support from family, peers, and adult mentors in URM, with subgroup analyses of peer and mentor support in URM with and without family contact. Furthermore, we investigate whether social support from each of the three sectors moderates the relationship between stressful life events (SLE) and mental health of URM with family contact. Questionnaire data were collected from 105 male URM from Syria and Afghanistan aged 14-19 years who were living in group homes of the Child Protection Services in Leipzig, Germany, in summer 2017. URM receive most social support from their families, followed by peers and adult mentors. URM without family contact received less peer and mentor support compared to URM with family contact. Lower social support from mentors increased the risk for PTSD, depression and anxiety symptoms after SLE, whereas lower social support from peers increased the association between SLE and anxiety symptoms. Mentor and peer support in the host country is relevant for the processing of SLE. URM without family contact represent a "double burden" group, as they might feel less supported by other social networks.

[Mental Health Problems of Unaccompanied Young Refugees in Youth Welfare Institutions]. / Psychische Belastung bei unbegleiteten jungen Geflüchteten in Jugendhilfeeinrichtungen.

OBJECTIVE: Within the present study we investigated prevalence rates of psychological symptoms in underage and full-age unaccompanied refugees in youth welfare institutions. METHODS: Sociodemographic characteristics and mental health problems in the areas of emotion and behavior were assessed using screening data from both self-reports and caregiver reports of 105 youths. RESULTS: Symptoms of depression (42 %), behavior (35 %) and posttraumatic stress (32 %) were most frequently reported. There were no significant differences in frequencies of psychological symptoms between groups of underage and full-age unaccompanied refugees. Whereas youth reported more problems with peers, caregivers reported more psychological problems of youths in the areas of emotion, behavior, and hyperactivity. CONCLUSION: The data underline the need for psychological interventions of young unaccompanied refugees.