gms | German Medical Science

Background: Germany has played a key role as receiving country during the so-called refugee and dis-placement crisis that began around 2015, with about 5 million asylum seekers arriving in the EU. It is well known that asylum seekers and refugees (ASRs) in the EU have a high burden of disease and are particularly prone to mental disorders such as trauma, stress-related and affective disorders. Not much is known about the determinants of health-related quality of life (HrQoL) among ASRs, especially in the context of the flight.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the associations between flight-related characteristics and HrQoL of ASRs in Germany.

Methods: The sample of this study was based on five consecutive waves (2016 to 2020) of the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey of Refugees samples (M3 to M5) of the German Socioeconomic Panel (SOEP). Mental and physical HrQoL was measured using the mental (MCS) and physical (PCS) component summary scores of the SF-12. Associations between flight-related characteristics and HrQoL were examined using multilevel mixed-effects linear regressions.

Results: The MCS and PCS scores were lower among ASRs with a below-average economic situation in their country of origin. Persecution, discrimination, and living conditions as reasons for leaving the country were associated with lower MCS scores. Dissatisfaction with their own living situation or a discrimination due to their origin and not feeling welcome in Germany were associated with lower MCS and PCS scores. Not feeling welcome in Germany and missing people from their country of origin were associated with lower MCS scores. No worries about not being able to stay in Germany or not being able to return to the country of origin were associated with higher MCS scores.

Implication for research and/or (healthcare) practice: The economic situation in the country of origin as well as the presence of persecution, dis-crimination, and/or poor living conditions as reasons for the flight may be pre-flight-related determinants of HrQoL among ASRs in Germany. Possible post-flight-related determinants may be the residence status, satisfaction with the living situation, discrimination due to one’s origin and a feeling of missing people from one’s country of origin. With regard to potentially modifiable determinants of HrQoL, clarity about the residence status and social integration should be improved.