Abstract
It has been widely proven that resettlement is associated with negative psychological effects (e.g., increased depression and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder) among refugees. Therefore, there is an urgent need to improve the psychosocial functioning of migrants. This study assessed associations between negative dysfunctional appraisal (perceiving experiences as stressful), spiritual needs, religious coping and wellbeing. Data from paper-and-pencil questionnaires were collected from 744 refugees (69.8% male) aged 18–67 years (M = 27.99) with diverse backgrounds (including from Mashreq countries) who were resettled in Germany. Bootstrapping mediation analysis revealed that the relationship of dysfunctional appraisal and wellbeing among refugees is mediated by spiritual needs (i.e., existential and religious needs). Additionally, negative religious coping mediates the relationship between spiritual needs and wellbeing. The data obtained suggest the need for practitioners to focus on psychological interventions that strengthen spiritual needs in order to improve mental health among refugees.
Highlights
The number of people forcibly displaced from their homes is increasing, with data from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) indicating that global forced displacement had exceeded 84 million by mid-2021 [1]
We address how spiritual needs and religious coping styles might contribute to the relationship between situation appraisal and mental wellbeing in refugees
The present study was designed to assess psychological resources related to spirituality that may improve functioning among refugees
Summary
The number of people forcibly displaced from their homes is increasing, with data from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) indicating that global forced displacement had exceeded 84 million by mid-2021 [1]. The scale of the phenomenon calls for research into psychosocial functioning among migrants. It is a challenge for researchers and for psychologists and educators working in refugee centers in the field of psychological interventions and social policy of a given country, especially considering that leaving a country and resettlement are highly traumatic and stressful events. Numerous studies reveal that refugees have an increased vulnerability of mental health due to stressors prior to migration and the migration experience itself, as well as post-migration stressors such as separation from family members, social isolation, uprooting and experiences of discrimination [3,4]. Dysfunctional or negative appraisals of life events are linked to posttraumatic and depressive
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