Mental health of Ukrainian refugees in Germany compared to other population groups – Results from the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey 2023

Abstract

Background: To date, little is known about the mental health of Ukrainian refugees living in Germany. Therefore, this study aims to describe the prevalence of depressive (DS) and anxiety symptoms (AS) among refugees from Ukraine, identify relevant associated factors, and compare the prevalence of psychological distress across different groups of origin. Methods: The analyses are based on data from the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey of Refugees (2023), supplemented by data from the SOEP main survey. Age-adjusted, weighted prevalences of psychological distress were calculated for non-migrants (n =13,210), non-refugee migrants (n = 4,889), as well as refugees from Ukraine (n = 3,039) and those from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, and Syria (n = 3,011). To investigate associations between psychological distress and selected social determinants, prevalence ratios were estimated using Poisson regressions. Results: The age-adjusted prevalences of DS (21 %) and AS (13 %) were higher among refugees from Ukraine than among non-migrants and non-refugee migrants. Overall, women reported psychological distress more frequently than men, regardless of experiences of migration or forced displacement. Social integration, experiences of discrimination, and employment were important factors associated with mental health among refugees from all countries of origin included in the study. Among Ukrainians, associations with age, gender, income, and housing satisfaction were also evident, whereas German language proficiency was associated with mental health among refugees from other countries of origin. Conclusions: The results indicate a substantial need for psychosocial support services. Furthermore, post-migration factors were closely associated with psychological distress, with experiences of exclusion and discrimination in particular being linked to poorer mental health.