Unaccompanied adolescents seeking asylum: poorer mental health under a restrictive reception.
We assessed the effects of a stringent reception policy on the mental health of unaccompanied adolescent asylum seekers by comparing the mental health of adolescents in a restricted campus reception setting and in a setting offering more autonomy (numbers [response rates]: 69 [93%] and 53 [69%], respectively; mean age, 16 years). Unaccompanied adolescent asylum seekers in a restricted reception setting reported more emotional problems on the Hopkins Symptom Checklist than their counterparts in the more autonomy group (mean scores [SD]: restricted, 59.3 [13.1]; other, 53.4 [10.5]; p = 0.033, F test). Main effects concerned a rise in anxiety. Girls showed larger differences than boys. A restrictive reception may therefore affect the mental health of minor asylum seekers. Health care workers and policy makers should be aware of this adverse effect.
Reijneveld
Sijmen A
SA
University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Department of Health Sciences, Northern Center for Healthcare Research, Groningen, The Netherlands.
de Boer
Josien B
JB
Bean
Tammy
T
Korfker
Dineke G
DG
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D009426:Netherlands; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011640:Public Policy; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012934:Social Isolation; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires