Social Science and Medicine
Volume 142, 2015, Pages 163-168

The persistence of predictors of wellbeing among refugee youth eight years after resettlement in Melbourne, Australia (Article)

Correa-Velez I.* , Gifford S.M. , McMichael C.
  • a School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia
  • b The Swinburne Institute for Social Research, Swinburne University of Technology, PO Box 218 HawthornVIC 3122, Australia
  • c School of Social Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia

Abstract

This short report assesses the predictors of subjective health and happiness among a cohort of refugee youth over their first eight years in Australia. Five waves of data collection were conducted between 2004 (n = 120) and 2012-13 (n = 51) using mixed methods. Previous schooling, self-esteem, moving house in the previous year, a supportive social environment, stronger ethnic identity and perceived discrimination were significant predictors of wellbeing after adjusting for demographic and pre-migration factors. When compared with a previous analysis of this cohort over their first three years of settlement, experiences of social exclusion still have a significant impact on wellbeing eight years after arriving in Australia. This study contributes to mounting evidence in support of policies that discourage discrimination and promote social inclusion and cultural diversity and which underpin the wellbeing of resettled refugee youth. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.

Author Keywords

longitudinal Australia Social exclusion Settlement discrimination wellbeing Refugee youth

Index Keywords

social exclusion refugee Australia human Refugees health status Victoria social inclusion relocation quality of life Young Adult Humans psychology cultural identity Adolescent male Melbourne female Victoria [Australia] young population self concept social adaptation Social Environment ethnicity social discrimination Social Adjustment
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84939637820&doi=10.1016%2fj.socscimed.2015.08.017&partnerID=40&md5=88a5ae8e3b448e82d5a8332908852d07
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.08.017
ISSN: 02779536
Cited by: 28
Original Language: English