title: The persistence of predictors of wellbeing among refugee youth eight years after resettlement in Melbourne, 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.
authors: School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia. Electronic address: ignacio.correavelez@qut.edu.au.
authors: Ignacio
authors: I
authors: Correa-Velez
authors: The Swinburne Institute for Social Research, Swinburne University of Technology, PO Box 218 Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia. Electronic address: sgifford@swin.edu.au.
authors: Sandra M
authors: SM
authors: Gifford
authors: School of Social Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia. Electronic address: c.mcmichael@latrobe.edu.au.
authors: Celia
authors: C
authors: McMichael
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012036:Refugees; D012649:Self Concept; D012917:Social Adjustment; D063508:Social Discrimination / Q000523:psychology; D012931:Social Environment; D014739:Victoria; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Australia; Discrimination; Longitudinal; Refugee youth; Settlement; Social exclusion; Wellbeing