Psychiatry Research
Volume 187, Issue 1-2, 2011, Pages 267-274

Change in visa status amongst Mandaean refugees: Relationship to psychological symptoms and living difficulties (Article)

Nickerson A.* , Steel Z. , Bryant R. , Brooks R. , Silove D.
  • a School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • b School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • c School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • d School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • e School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Abstract

Policies of deterrence, including the use of detention and temporary visas, have been widely implemented to dissuade asylum seekers from seeking protection in Western countries. The present study examined the impact of visa status change on the mental health of 97 Mandaean refugees resettled in Australia. At the time of the first survey (2004), 68 (70%) participants held temporary protection visas (TPVs) and 29 (30%) held permanent residency (PR) status, whereas by the second survey (2007), 97 (100%) participants held PR status. We tested a meditational model to determine whether the relationship between change in visa status and change in psychological symptoms was mediated by change in living difficulties associated with the visa categories. The conversion of visa status from TPV to PR status was associated with significant improvements in PTSD and depression symptoms, and increases in mental health-related quality of life (MHR-QOL). The relationship between change in visa status and reduced PTSD and depression symptoms was mediated by reductions in living difficulties. In contrast, the relationship between change in visa status and increased MHR-QOL was not mediated by changes in living difficulties. These results suggest that restriction of rights and access to services related to visa status negatively affect the mental health of refugees. Implications for government policies regarding refugees are discussed. © 2010.

Author Keywords

migration policy Depression Temporary protection Mental health PTSD Quality of life trauma

Index Keywords

depression refugee mental health service regression analysis Australia mental health human Statistics, Nonparametric Refugees immigration middle aged Asian continental ancestry group priority journal Cross-Sectional Studies mental disease quality of life social status Humans male female symptom Psychometrics Article Retrospective Studies major clinical study adult migration health care access posttraumatic stress disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic government regulation community living Emigration and Immigration
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79953085001&doi=10.1016%2fj.psychres.2010.12.015&partnerID=40&md5=85aaf8d73bef915daf7eef553143bbdb
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2010.12.015
ISSN: 01651781
Cited by: 45
Original Language: English