Prevalence and associated factors for poor mental health among young migrants in Sweden: a cross-sectional study.

Journal: Global health action

Volume: 17

Issue: 1

Year of Publication: 2024

Affiliated Institutions:  Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden. Global and Sexual Health (GloSH) Research Group, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Widerströmska huset, Stockholm, Sweden.

Abstract summary 

Young migrants face multiple challenges that can affect their mental, sexual and reproductive health.To assess the prevalence of self-reported poor mental health and its associated demographic, post-migration and sexual risk behaviour factors among young migrants (aged 15-25) in Sweden.Data were drawn from a cross-sectional survey conducted with migrants aged 15-65 years old in Sweden between December 2018 and November 2019 ( = 6449). Among these, 990 participants aged 15-25 were eligible for the study. Mental health was measured using the Refugee Health Screener-13. Missing data indicator analysis and multivariable logistic regression models were conducted to estimate the association between mental health, sexual risk behaviour, demographic and migration-related variables.Of the 990 participants, 59% reported poor mental health. Participants reporting poor mental health were more likely to be female (AOR:1.63, 95% CI:1.18-2.25), to have lived in Sweden more than three years (AOR:2.16, 95% CI:1.17-3.97), to engage in any sexual risk behaviour (AOR:1.99, 95% CI:1.25-3.17), and to live alone (AOR:1.95, 95% CI:1.25-3.03) or with friends they already knew (AOR:1.60, 95% CI:1.37-4.91). People arriving from the Americas (AOR:0.54, 95% CI:0.33-0.88), Asia (AOR:0.44, 95% CI:0.22-0.86), Europe (AOR:0.30, 95% CI:0.14-0.61) and Africa (AOR 0.37, 95% CI: 0.23-0.60) had lower odds of poor mental health than those arriving from Syria.The prevalence of poor mental health among young migrants in Sweden was high, with specific subgroups (women, asylum seekers, people arriving from Syria, and those residing longer in Sweden) being particularly vulnerable. Our results indicate the interconnectedness between poor mental health and sexual risk behaviour in this population. Thus, policies targeting young migrants should ensure that healthcare services screen for both poor sexual and mental health at the same time.

Authors & Co-authors:  Causevic Sara S Ekström Anna Mia AM Orsini Nicola N Kagesten Anna A Strömdahl Susanne S Salazar Mariano M

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  World Health Organization (WHO) . Mental health - key terms and definitions [Internet]. Available from: https://www.who.int/southeastasia/health-topics/mental-health/key-terms-and-definitions-in-mental-health#health
Authors :  6
Identifiers
Doi : 2294592
SSN : 1654-9880
Study Population
Female
Mesh Terms
Female
Other Terms
Mental health;adolescent;refugees;risk behaviour;sexual health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Publication Country
United States