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Psychological distress among Afghan refugees in Norway as a function of their integration
Dixie Brea Larios1, David L Sam1,2, Gro Mjeldheim Sandal1
1Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Background:
Often, refugees are susceptible to mental health problems due to adversities experienced before, during, and after the flight. Through a cross-sectional study, the present study examines the relationship between different aspects of integration and psychological distress among Afghans living in Norway.
Methods:
The participants were recruited through e-mail invitations, refugee-related organizations, and social media platforms. The participants (N = 114) answered questions about integration across multiple dimensions (psychological, social, navigational, economic, and linguistic) in line with the Immigration Policy Lab index (IPL -12/24). Hopkins symptoms checklist (HSCL-25) was used to assess psychological distress.
Results:
Based on hierarchical multiple regression analysis, both the psychological dimension (0.269 p < 0.01) and the navigational dimension (0.358 p < 0.05) of integration predicted psychological distress.
Discussion/Conclusion:
The results suggest that the psychological aspects of integration, such as being part of a community, having feelings of security, and a sense of belonging, are beneficial for the mental health and well-being of the Afghans in Norway and contribute further to other aspects of integration.
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