Associations between social anxiety, pre-migration trauma, and acculturation risks and resources among unaccompanied refugees

Abstract

Unaccompanied refugees are considered at risk for mental health problems, yet there is a lack of knowledge about social anxiety among this group. The aim of this study is to investigate social anxiety among unaccompanied refugees resettled in Norway, and associations with demographic variables (gender, age, length of stay), pre-migration traumatic events, and acculturation related factors (perceived discrimination and culture competence on host and majority culture). The participants (N =557) originate from 31 different countries, mainly from Afghanistan (49,6%), Somalia (11,1%), and Iraq (7,0%). The mean age was 20,01 years, and the participants’ average length of stay in the country was 4,6 years. The participants completed a self-reported questionnaire administered in groups. A linear hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to gain information about the predictors of social anxiety. The findings show that perceived discrimination and majority culture competence have direct effects on levels of social anxiety. These results provide information about social anxiety in acculturation context, implying an expanded attention by practitioners working with unaccompanied refugees towards the day to day factors impacting mental health after the resettlement in a new country.