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Review
. 2020 Mar 1:264:50-68.
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.11.165. Epub 2019 Dec 5.

Everyday life experiences and mental health among conflict-affected forced migrants: A meta-analysis

Wai Kai Hou  1 , Huinan Liu  2 , Li Liang  2 , Jeffery Ho  3 , Hyojin Kim  4 , Eunice Seong  4 , George A Bonanno  4 , Stevan E Hobfoll  5 , Brian J Hall  6
Affiliations
Review

Everyday life experiences and mental health among conflict-affected forced migrants: A meta-analysis

Wai Kai Hou et al. J Affect Disord. .

Abstract

Background: There are a growing number of forced migrants worldwide. Early detection of poor adjustment and interventions to facilitate positive adaptation within these communities is a critical global public health priority. A growing literature points to challenges within the post-migration context as key determents of poor mental health.

Aims: The current meta-analysis evaluated the association between daily stressors and poor mental health among these populations.

Method: A systematic search in PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science identified relevant studies from inception until the end of 2018. Effect sizes (correlation coefficients) were pooled using Fisher's Z transformation and reported with 95% confidence intervals. Moderator and mediator analyses were conducted. The protocol is available in PROSPERO [CRD42018081207].

Results: Analysis of 59 eligible studies (n = 17,763) revealed that daily stressors were associated with higher psychiatric symptoms (Zr=0.126-0.199, 95% CI=0.084-0.168, 0.151-0.247, p<0.001) and general distress (Zr=0.542, 95% CI=0.332-0.752, p<0.001). Stronger effect sizes were observed for mixed daily stressors relative to subjective, interpersonal, and material daily stressors, and for general distress relative to posttraumatic stress symptoms and general well-being. Effect sizes were also stronger for children and adolescents relative to adults. Daily stressors fully mediated the associations of prior trauma with post-migration anxiety, depressive, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.

Conclusions: This meta-analysis provides a synthesis of existing research on the role of unfavorable everyday life experiences and their associations with poor mental health among conflict-affected forced migrants. Routine assessment and intervention to reduce daily stressors can prevent and reduce psychiatric morbidity in these populations.

Keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Everyday life; Forced migrants; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Refugees.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest All other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Flow diagram for selection of studies.
Figure 2a.
Figure 2a.
Forest plots of the pooled effect sizes between mental health outcomes and subjective daily stressors.
Figure 2b.
Figure 2b.
Forest plots of the pooled effect sizes between mental health outcomes and interpersonal daily stressors.
Figure 2c.
Figure 2c.
Forest plots of the pooled effect sizes between mental health outcomes and material daily stressors.
Figure 2d.
Figure 2d.
Forest plots of the pooled effect sizes between mental health outcomes and mixed daily stressors.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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