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Published in: BMC Medicine 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Adjustment of refugee children and adolescents in Australia: outcomes from wave three of the Building a New Life in Australia study

Authors: Winnie Lau, Derrick Silove, Ben Edwards, David Forbes, Richard Bryant, Alexander McFarlane, Dusan Hadzi-Pavlovic, Zachary Steel, Angela Nickerson, Miranda Van Hooff, Kim Felmingham, Sean Cowlishaw, Nathan Alkemade, Dzenana Kartal, Meaghan O’Donnell

Published in: BMC Medicine | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

High-income countries like Australia play a vital role in resettling refugees from around the world, half of whom are children and adolescents. Informed by an ecological framework, this study examined the post-migration adjustment of refugee children and adolescents 2–3 years after arrival to Australia. We aimed to estimate the overall rate of adjustment among young refugees and explore associations with adjustment and factors across individual, family, school, and community domains, using a large and broadly representative sample.

Methods

Data were drawn from Wave 3 of the Building a New Life in Australia (BNLA) study, a nationally representative, longitudinal study of settlement among humanitarian migrants in Australia. Caregivers of refugee children aged 5–17 (N = 694 children and adolescents) were interviewed about their children’s physical health and activity, school absenteeism and achievement, family structure and parenting style, and community and neighbourhood environment. Parent and child forms of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were completed by caregivers and older children to assess social and emotional adjustment.

Results

Sound adjustment according to the SDQ was observed regularly among young refugees, with 76-94% (across gender and age) falling within normative ranges. Comparison with community data for young people showed that young refugees had comparable or higher adjustment levels than generally seen in the community. However, young refugees as a group did report greater peer difficulties. Bivariate and multivariate linear regression analyses showed that better reported physical health and school achievement were associated with higher adjustment. Furthermore, higher school absenteeism and endorsement of a hostile parenting style were associated with lower adjustment.

Conclusions

This is the first study to report on child psychosocial outcomes from the large, representative longitudinal BNLA study. Our findings indicate sound adjustment for the majority of young refugees resettled in Australia. Further research should examine the nature of associations between variables identified in this study. Overall, treating mental health problems early remains a priority in resettlement. Initiatives to enhance parental capability, physical health, school achievement and participation could assist to improve settlement outcomes for young refugees.
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Metadata
Title
Adjustment of refugee children and adolescents in Australia: outcomes from wave three of the Building a New Life in Australia study
Authors
Winnie Lau
Derrick Silove
Ben Edwards
David Forbes
Richard Bryant
Alexander McFarlane
Dusan Hadzi-Pavlovic
Zachary Steel
Angela Nickerson
Miranda Van Hooff
Kim Felmingham
Sean Cowlishaw
Nathan Alkemade
Dzenana Kartal
Meaghan O’Donnell
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Medicine / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1741-7015
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-018-1124-5

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