Background: Young Middle Eastern male refugees are currently among the most vulnerable groups in Europe. Most of them have experienced potentially traumatic events (PTEs) such as rape, torture, or violent assaults. Compared to their peers, young refugees suffer more from internalizing and externalizing symptoms, especially when unaccompanied. Little is known about the cumulative impact of experiencing different types of PTEs on mental health outcomes (polytraumatization) of young male refugees from the Middle East. We investigated (1) whether there is a dose–response relationship between multiple PTE types experienced and mental health outcomes, (2) whether individual types of PTEs are particularly important, and (3) to what extent these are differentially associated with mental health outcomes among unaccompanied or accompanied peers. Methods: In total, 151 young Middle Eastern male refugees in Germany (M_age = 16.81 years, SD_age = 2.01) answered questionnaires on PTEs, mental health, and post-migration stress. Results: Hierarchical regression analyses revealed, while controlling for age, duration of stay, unaccompanied status, and post-migration stress, (1) a dose–effect between PTE types on both internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Moreover, (2) regarding internalizing symptoms, violent family separation and experiencing life-threatening medical problems were particularly crucial. The latter was driven by unaccompanied refugees, who also reported higher levels of substance use. Conclusions: The results extend findings from the literature and suggest that not only may greater polytraumatization be related to greater depression among refugees, but also to a range of other mental health outcomes from the internalizing and externalizing symptom domains. Furthermore, the results highlight the mental health risks that unaccompanied and accompanied refugee adolescents face after exposure to PTEs, and provide information for practitioners as well as researchers about event types that may be particularly relevant.

Background: Assumed differences in gender role attitudes (GRAs) of German adolescents and refugee adolescents from the Middle East are often discussed, but rarely investigated. Presumed differences in GRAs across cultures and genders are assumed to be involved in emerging gender differences in well-being and mental health symptoms. Overall, appropriate measurements for investigating GRAs of adolescents with different cultural backgrounds are scarce. Methods: Hence, the present study exemplarily investigates (1) the measurement invariance (MI) of a German translation of the Social Role Questionnaire (SRQ) for German (n = 114) and German-speaking Middle Eastern refugee adolescents from Syria, Afghanistan, or Iraq (n = 115), using a Multiple Indicator Multiple Cause (MIMIC) model to account for age and gender. Moreover, (2) differences between GRAs of both groups, (3) relationships of GRAs with different facets of affective well-being, as well as (4) differences in these relationships between German and refugee adolescents are examined by extending the MIMIC-model to a full structural equation model (SEM). Results: Results indicate (1) that scalar MI for the SRQ can be assumed. Furthermore, (2) German adolescents show less traditional gender-linked GRAs than refugee adolescents, but no further differences in GRAs. Furthermore, no differences between the relationships of GRAs with well-being and mental health symptoms were found between the groups (4). Also, (3) GRAs showed no relation with any of the outcomes, but gender and age predicted mental health symptoms. Conclusion: The findings show that the SRQ is a useful measurement for investigating the GRAs of adolescents living in Germany and could be used in further cross-cultural research.

This paper focuses on the relationship between stressful life events experienced by young refugees and their reports of psychological and somatic stress symptoms and well-being. It examines whether this relationship is mediated by personal and social resources and by acculturation hassles experienced in the host country. Path analyses were calculated based on data from 147 adolescents aged 11 to 18 years from the Middle East after their flight to Germany to test the proposed mediation model. The number of experienced stressful life event types was directly linked to current psychological and somatic stress symptoms. The association with psychological stress symptoms was partially mediated by acculturation hassles experienced in the host culture. Well-being was not related to stressful life events but showed significant associations with available social resources. A closer inspection of the mediation by acculturation hassles showed that discrimination hassles and socio-cultural adaptation hassles are important mediators in the relationship between stressful life events and the included outcome variables. The results indicate that stressful life events as well as resources and acculturation hassles should be considered in measures to improve the adjustment of young refugees.

The COVID-19 outbreak forced widespread changes in minors’ daily life with a risk of compromising well-being. So far, little is known about how health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of young refugees has developed during this time, although they belong to a vulnerable group. In a cross-sectional analysis during the first year of the pandemic, minors aged 8 to 16 years with and without refugee experience (n each = 156) were surveyed, using self-report questionnaires on HRQoL and perceived COVID-related stress. In a longitudinal analysis with refugee minors aged 8 to 18 years (n = 91) HRQoL and possible relevant predictors (gender, age, duration of stay, mental health) were assessed in 2019 (pre-pandemic). HRQoL was reassessed in 2020 (peri-pandemic). No difference was detected between minors with and without refugee experience in terms of peri-pandemic HRQoL. A proportion of 36% (refugee minors) and 44% (non-refugee minors) reported low peri-pandemic HRQoL. However, refugee minors reported more COVID-related stress (difficulties in following school). Longitudinally, HRQoL of refugee minors increased from pre- to peri-pandemic times. Older age, lower pre-pandemic HRQoL, and pre-pandemic externalizing problem behavior predicted worse peri-pandemic HRQoL. The findings suggest a certain resilience of refugee minors but also show a continued vulnerability. Therefore, minors at risk should be identified and their psychosocial needs addressed.

Introduction: The public debate on migration often focuses on refugees’ cultural adaptation, with language barriers being a key concern. Previous research demonstrated associations of mental health with acculturative hassles but there is little longitudinal research. Therefore, this study examines the longitudinal relationship between the mental health of refugee minors and language-related acculturative hassles concerning the host country’s language. We assume that internalizing symptoms are associated with language hassles and predict them over time, for externalizing symptoms no assumptions were made. Methods: A non-clinical sample of 11–19-year-old minors with refugee background living accompanied in Germany ( n = 63) answered self-report questionnaires on mental health, language proficiency, and language related hassles twice at intervals of approximately 1 year. Results: Baseline language hassles and internalizing symptoms (Δ R ² = 0.06) but not externalizing symptoms predicted follow-up language hassles. Discussion: Our study shows initial, longitudinal indications that impaired mental health may be a risk factor for language hassles. This is considered important for affected minors and their caregivers, e.g., for education and peer contact. Replication of the findings with a larger sample size is recommended.