Primary data from the YOURGROWTH study: mental health of young refugees: A longitudinal study over two years

Research Questions/Hypotheses:

The main objective of the study was to examine the mental health of young people with refugee experience over time, over a total period of two years. The general assumption here is that improvements in the well-being and mental health of the refugee children and adolescents can be seen in the longitudinal section over time. However, differences in developmental trajectories with a more or less favorable adjustment may result. Consequently, (1.) risk and protective factors relevant for the developmental course will be identified. Possible influencing factors are assumed to be (a) past or present traumatic experiences, (b) personal and social resources, (c) acculturation strategies, (d) stress coping strategies, (e) parental parenting behavior, and (f) the use of support services in Germany. Furthermore, the realization of three locations in Germany, region Bielefeld, Hamburg and region Stuttgart/Ostalbkreis, will investigate possible regional differences. Since it can be assumed that the use of health care and integration services in the new environment will have a supportive effect on the psychosocial adjustment of the refugee children and adolescents after their flight, (2.) possible barriers in the access to services of the health care system will be identified.

Research Design:

Mixed standardized survey instrument (combination of differently standardized parts); repeated measurements

Measurement Instruments/Apparatus:

The survey instrument consists of numerous questionnaires, most of which have already been published elsewhere. All questionnaires used are listed in the section “Utilized Test Methods”.

Data Collection Method:

Survey in the presence of an investigator

• Single target
• Group target
• Paper and pencil
• Computer-based

Survey in the absence of an investigator

• Other method, namely: In a survey in the absence of an investigator, the participant was always accompanied by the investigator by telephone. Optionally, the questionnaire was available to the participant either online or in paper-pencil format. An exclusively telephone survey was not conducted to ensure the anonymity of the participants’ responses. An exclusively postal or online survey was not conducted to allow for queries and to ensure the well-being of the participant.

Population:

Refugee children and adolescents from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq aged between 8 and 18 (at the time of the first survey) in the Stuttgart/Ostalbkreis region, the Bielefeld region and Hamburg

Survey Time Period:

Data collection with three survey waves. Acquisition in waves T1 and T2:
T1: 15.01.2019 – 11.10.2019
T2: 20.01.2020 – 02.01.2021
T3: 11.01.2021 – 08.02.2022

Sample:

Convenience Sample

Gender Distribution:

43,9 % n = 243 female participants
53,2 % n = 295 male participants

Age Distribution: 7 – 20 years for first participation

Spatial Coverage (Country/Region/City): Countries of origin: Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, sporadically other countries (e.g. Iran)/Stuttgart/Ostalbkreis region, Bielefeld region and Hamburg region/-

Subject Recruitment:

Site A: Further schools as well as accommodations for refugees were contacted by mail, telephone or on site. Information materials and consent forms for parents were sent by mail to interested institutions where children/adolescents with the inclusion criteria were available. A survey date was arranged, at which interested children/adolescents appeared or were picked up with the teachers/social workers.

Site B: Elementary and secondary schools as well as accommodations for refugees were contacted by mail, telephone or on site. Information materials and consent forms for parents were sent by mail to interested facilities where children/adolescents with the inclusion criteria were available. While a single appointment was made at elementary schools and residential facilities, for secondary schools, the survey was split into two appointments (maximum interval of one week). At the appointments, the children and adolescents were interviewed in rooms provided for this purpose.

Site C: Sports and youth clubs were contacted with the help of a trained youth trainer who himself has a refugee background. Information material about the study was sent by mail to the participants. Parents or other responsible persons were asked to sign a consent form. Appointments were made individually by telephone or, in close consultation with the study leaders, through the youth trainer.

At all sites, participants received an expense allowance for their participation.

Sample Size:

A total of 918 interviews with 554 children and adolescents.

Return/Drop Out:

Cases with unreliable data (e.g., participants appeared tired, inattentive) or otherwise unusable data are marked in the data set (“Note”, this variable was deleted in the course of anonymization and “Exclude” variables). Individual data points that could not be used due to problems in data collection were marked with “-95” (see codebooks).