Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
Volume 43, Issue 1, 2019, Pages 46-55

Impacts of social integration and loneliness on mental health of humanitarian migrants in Australia: evidence from a longitudinal study (Article) (Open Access)

Chen W. , Wu S. , Ling L. , Renzaho A.M.N.*
  • a Faculty of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, China, Sun Yat-sen Center for Migrant Health Policy, SunYat-sen University, China, Humanitarian and Development Research Initiative, School of Social Science and Psychology, Western Sydney UniversityNSW, Australia
  • b Faculty of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, China, Sun Yat-sen Center for Migrant Health Policy, SunYat-sen University, China
  • c Faculty of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, China, Sun Yat-sen Center for Migrant Health Policy, SunYat-sen University, China
  • d Humanitarian and Development Research Initiative, School of Social Science and Psychology, Western Sydney UniversityNSW, Australia

Abstract

Objective: To examine the impacts of social integration and loneliness on the mental health of humanitarian migrants (HMs) in Australia over time. Methods: A total of 1,723 HMs who held permanent visas from the first to third waves (2013–2016) of a longitudinal study in Australia (Building a New Life in Australia) were included in the study. Dependent variables included poor general health, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and severe mental illness (SMI). Predictors were social integration stressors and loneliness. We used generalised linear mixed models to assess impacts of the changing status of social integration and loneliness on dependent variables over time. Results: HMs with increased social integration stressors reported poor general health (aOR:1.56, 95%CI:1.19–2.03); PTSD (aOR:1.67; 95%CI: 1.32–2.13); and SMI (aOR: 1.46; 95%CI: 1.15–1.86) over time when compared to those without stressors. Increased loneliness during resettlement was also associated with poor general health (aOR: 1.56; 95%CI:1.28–1.91); PTSD (aOR: 1.57; 95%CI: 1.28–1.93) and SMI (aOR: 1.59; 95%CI: 1.31–1.94). HMs who reported overcoming loneliness (aOR:1.50, 95%CI: 1.24–1.83 for SMI and aOR:1.51; 95%CI: 1.22–1.86 for PTSD) and persistent loneliness (aOR:1.99; 95%CI: 1.51–2.61 for SMI) reported poorer mental health over time than those who did not report loneliness. Implications for public health: Culturally competent settlement services addressing social integration stressors and loneliness are required to improve the mental health of humanitarian migrants. © 2018 The Authors

Author Keywords

General health Mental health loneliness social integration Humanitarian migrants

Index Keywords

Health Personnel longitudinal study refugee Interpersonal Relations Australia health care personnel human Longitudinal Studies Refugees Relief Work middle aged coping behavior Adaptation, Psychological human relation Humans psychology male female adult migration posttraumatic stress disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Loneliness Transients and Migrants
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85059444867&doi=10.1111%2f1753-6405.12856&partnerID=40&md5=d73c4fc1eb43dca282963afcd4068c15
DOI: 10.1111/1753-6405.12856
ISSN: 13260200
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English