Work

279 Mental health trajectories and family functioning among Syrian refugees in Switzerland: a five-year longitudinal study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: OP 28: Mental Health 5, B304 (FCSH), September 4, 2025, 16:00 - 17:00 Aim The Syrian civil war has displaced millions, fueling a major refugee crisis in Europe. While resettlement challenges are well-documented, longitudinal research on healthcare needs of Syrian forced migrants in host countries like Switzerland remains limited. This study examines mental health trajectories over time, focusing on post-migration resettlement and family functioning impacts on psychological well-being. Methods This longitudinal study followed 115 Syrian refugees (31 families) over a five-year period (2019 - 2023) with at least survey waves. Participants included those from Switzerland’s standard asylum process and the Swiss Resettlement Program (SRP), which prioritizes vulnerable families (e.g., heightened need for protection and presence of disabilities) from Jordan and Lebanon for direct resettlement. SRP participants bypassed standard asylum procedures, receiving refugee status upon arrival. M.I.N.I. questionnaires detected major depressive disorder (MDD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed via SF-12 scores, and family functioning via the McMaster’s Family Assessment Device (FAD), both tracking mean and standard deviation over time. Analyses stratified by family roles (fathers, mothers, children) to examine differential trajectories. Results Cumulative incidence of MDD and PTSD symptoms reached 30.8% and 24.6%, respectively. SRP parents initially reported higher HRQoL scores than non-SRP counterparts, but both exhibited significant decline over time (fathers: SF-12 scores from 51.3 ± 13.2 to 39.5 ± 8.3; mothers: 50.3 ± 9.7 to 43.0 ± 5.5). Family functioning of both groups also deteriorated (fathers: FAD scores from 1.4 ± 0.8 to 1.9 ± 0.7; mothers: 1.5 ± 0.4 to 1.8 ± 0.6). Conclusion Structural and familial contexts critically shape refugee mental health. While SRP’s family-centered approach initially offered relative protection, long-term deterioration underscores systemic gaps. Tailored interventions targeting vulnerable subgroups - particularly parents - are crucial. The study highlights SRP’s protective potential,?emphasizing the need to prioritize family stability in policy design.

Source: Journal of Migration and Health

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmh.2026.100431