Post-Migration Stressors, Parent Health, and Family Functioning Among Camp Refugees

Overview: Current refugee research lacks knowledge of how refugees can better utilize available resources to decrease such stressors. This study examines how resource utilization attenuates the association between post-migration stressors, physical and mental health problems, and family dysfunction.Proposal text: In many countries, refugee families are a rapidly growing population with a greater risk of family conflicts and physical and mental health challenges. As a result, refugees have higher elevated stress levels and more associated physical and mental health disorders than the general population. Refugees generally leave their home country under difficult and stressful circumstances. Upon migration to their host community, additional stressors often arise. This post-migration stress may exacerbate other types of stress for families due to how family members adjust to the acculturation process, and as relationships between adolescents and parents develop new dynamics. Additionally, post-migration stress, which is linked to poor health outcomes among refugees, may become exacerbated by parental distress and family conflicts. Often for refugee families, the availability of or lack of resources plays a role in the level of stress individuals and families experience. Moreover, resource access and utilization significantly impact family dynamics between refugee parents and their children and has been highlighted as a determining factor for experiencing stress. Current refugee research has strengthened our understanding of the complex post-migration stressors, family health, and family relationships. However, there still remains a lack of knowledge of how refugees can better utilize available resources to decrease such stressors. This study examines how resource utilization attenuates the association between post-migration stressors, physical and mental health problems, and family dysfunction. Specifically, the study aims are as follows: (1) to describe the types of stressors experienced by Tamil refugees as well as their level of adjustment and level of family functioning, (2) to provide initial tests of association between post-migration stressors experienced by parents and physical health, mental wellbeing, and family functioning, and (3) to examine the extent refugees are using formal and informal resources and their level of adjustment and family functioning. The researchers hypothesize that resource utilization would attenuate the association between post-migration stressors, physical and mental health problems, and family dysfunction. The researchers conducted a mixed-method study with in-person structured surveys using the Post-Migration Living Difficulties Questionnaire ) and qualitative interviews with a random sample of 120 Sri Lankan refugee families living in the Trichy refugee camp in Tamil Nadu, India. Through these survey interviews, the researchers obtained data on the participants' post-migration stressors and their resource utilization. Quantitative data analysis was conducted to examine the main effects of post-migration stressors on well-being and family functioning, and the extent to which resource utilization attenuated those associations. Results confirm that post-migration stressor scores are significantly associated with various health outcomes. This study found support for our main hypothesis and confirms that the total post-migration stressor score was significantly associated with various health outcomes and family dynamics, specifically somatic complaints, depressive symptoms, hostility, and family functioning. This study’s findings emphasize that focusing solely on pre-migration trauma may fail to detect and address the crucial relationship between post-migration stressors and health and family functioning among refugees. Results also emphasize the urgency to provide adequate, accessible resources to refugees that can promote overall well-being.