Background: Refugees face numerous challenges, including conflict, displacement, family separation, human rights violations, limited access to basic needs, and exposure to violence and torture. These experiences significantly impact their psychological well-being, leading to increased stress, anxiety, and depression. Syrian refugees in Jordan may experience higher levels of depression and anxiety than those in Spain due to harsher living conditions, limited economic opportunities, uncertain legal status, inadequate mental health services, and ongoing proximity to the Syrian conflict, whereas refugees in Spain benefit from better integration, stronger support systems, and greater stability. Objective: This study aimed to assess and compare the psychological symptoms experienced by Syrian refugees in Jordan and Spain. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational design was employed to evaluate the psychological impact on Syrian refugees in both developed (Spain) and developing (Jordan) country. A sample of 200 refugees from camps, residences, and refugee centers was recruited. Psychological symptoms were measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). Results: The majority of participants had low income, secondary education, and were unemployed. Overall, 55.5% reported stress, 63.5% anxiety, and 68.5% depression. Higher levels of stress and depression were observed among females, unemployed individuals, and low-income groups. Age also played a critical role, with individuals aged 40–49 reporting elevated stress, anxiety, and depression compared with other age groups. Discrimination and living arrangements further influenced mental health, with low-social-connectivity communities and rural areas associated with higher anxiety and depression. Higher levels of stress and depression were observed among females in Spain and significant mental health disparities across age and income groups in Jordan. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions addressing sociodemographic vulnerabilities to improve refugee mental health outcomes. Refugees in Jordan reported significantly higher levels of depression and anxiety compared with those in Spain. Conclusions: The findings highlight the profound psychological burden faced by Syrian refugees, particularly in Jordan, where living conditions and systemic challenges exacerbate mental health issues. Factors such as age, gender, marital status, low education, and low income were strongly associated with higher stress levels in both countries. These results underscore the need for targeted mental health interventions, improved access to psychological support, and policies that address the socioeconomic and legal challenges faced by refugees. Enhancing integration, reducing discrimination, and providing comprehensive mental health services are critical steps toward improving the well-being of this vulnerable population.

Background: Displaced individuals endure challenges, including conflict, forced migration, family separation, human rights violations, limited access to essential services, and increased exposure to violence and abuse. These hardships significantly impact their mental health, often leading to heightened trauma-related symptoms. Methods: We used a cross-sectional correlational design in refugee camps, homes, and centers across Jordan and Spain. 200 refugees with confirmed status in the past ten years were recruited. Demographic data were collected via a demographic form, the PTSD-8 Inventory assessed traumatic symptoms, and data analysis included descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Chi-square tests. Results: Most participants had a secondary education, were unemployed, and had low incomes. PTSD symptoms were prevalent, with rates of recurrent thoughts (63.5%), re-experiencing events (57.5%), nightmares (50.5%), sudden reactions (56.5%), activity avoidance (53.5%), avoidance of specific thoughts or feelings (56.5%), jumpiness (53.5%), hypervigilance (53.5%), feeling on guard (41.5%), and general avoidance (43.5%) rated from rarely to most of the time. All symptoms were significantly more frequent among refugees in Jordan than in Spain. Conclusions and Recommendations: Intrusive thoughts were more frequent among females, urban residents, and unemployed individuals. Avoidance behaviors were higher in married and unemployed individuals. Hypervigilance was more prevalent among females, married individuals, and those with lower incomes. Regionally, females and married individuals in Jordan exhibited more intrusive thoughts and avoidance. In Spain, intrusive thoughts and hypervigilance were more common among females and the unemployed. The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted mental health interventions, particularly in refugee camps like those in Jordan, where PTSD symptom rates were significantly higher. Programs should prioritize trauma-focused therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, while adopting gender-sensitive approaches to address the heightened vulnerability of women and unemployed individuals. Given the strong link between unemployment and symptom severity, livelihood support and vocational training should be integrated into psychosocial care. Policymakers in host countries like Jordan could benefit from adopting integration strategies similar to Spain’s, which may contribute to lower PTSD prevalence. Additionally, community-based awareness initiatives could improve early symptom recognition and access to care. Future research should explore longitudinal outcomes to assess the long-term impact of displacement and resettlement conditions on mental health.

Syrian refugees face numerous challenges, including conflict, displacement, family separation, human rights violations, limited access to basic needs, and exposure to violence and torture. These experiences significantly affect their physical, psychological, social, and environmental quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to assess the QoL of Syrian refugees in Spain and Jordan and to examine the association between sociodemographic characteristics, living conditions, and experiences of discrimination with different QoL domains. This study used a cross-sectional correlational design in Syrian refugee centers, homes, and camps across Spain and Jordan. A convenience sample of Syrian refugees with confirmed status in the past ten years was recruited. Demographic data were collected via a demographic form, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life—Brief Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) was used to assess their quality of life. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, one-way ANOVA, and independent t-tests. The two hundred participants were predominantly aged 18–29 (43%), female (52.5%), married (51.5%), with secondary school education (46.5%), and unemployed (70%), with low monthly family income (60.5%). While 69% experienced low levels of discrimination, 33% were satisfied with their health, and 47.5% rated their QoL as neutral. Refugees in Spain reported higher QoL across physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains compared to those in Jordan (p < 0.05). The QoL was related to socio-demographic factors: higher among married participants (p = 0.044), urban residents (p < 0.001), and recent immigrants (<5 years, p < 0.001), but lower among those with low income (p = 0.011). Gender differences showed that males had better physical (p = 0.001) and psychological (p = 0.032) QoL than females. Lower discrimination levels and employment were associated with higher QoL across multiple domains. This study highlights the lasting association of the Syrian conflict on refugees’ QoL, emphasizing the need for holistic healthcare that addresses physical, psychological, social, and environmental challenges both before and after displacement. Findings call for comprehensive support systems, including early mental health interventions, anti-discrimination efforts, and community inclusion programs, to enhance refugees’ resilience and integration. The study identifies specific subgroups at greater risk of lower QoL—including women, older adults, those with low income, the unemployed, camp residents, and those experiencing discrimination—providing actionable insights for policymakers to target resources and interventions effectively. Tailored rehabilitation and psychological care are essential for empowering refugees to rebuild their lives and fostering social cohesion in host communities.