Refugee reception contexts in Australia and their impact on the mental health of forcibly displaced young people: a mixed methods study

Young refugees often experience a multitude of traumas before and during migration and continue to experience intersecting challenges post-migration. To our knowledge, the studies in this thesis are the first to explore this unique set of socioecological influences in host country resettlement. Specifically, the research explores the mental health impacts of macro-level attitudes towards refugees as expressed in media and politics, the mental health implications of social connectedness for young former-refugees. Bronfenbrenner’s socioecological systems theory and intersectionality are used to frame this mixed methods thesis. A scoping review examines the mental health and wellbeing impacts of societal attitudes towards forcibly displaced people. Building on the evidence base, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) is then used to explore the lived experience of resettlement in Australia for six young adult former-refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ten refugee supporters participated to explore the reciprocal interactions and impacts of macro-level attitudes on the wider community. Regression modelling investigates the associations between psychological distress and social connectedness, operationalised as social support, social trust and belonging. This thesis explores both the positive and negative effects of distal influences on young refugees, highlighting how stigmatising media portrayals can undermine their self-identity and wellbeing, potentially reactivating previous trauma. Such representations pose significant challenges for safe media reporting and impact not only refugees but also the wider community. Despite these adversities, participants reported personal growth, increased social trust, and a sense of belonging, which correlate with reduced psychological distress; however, the impact of social trust varies by gender. The research further contends that macro-level factors, usually considered distal, become proximal when experienced consistently over time. This is a critical insight, rarely addressed in existing literature. Identifying factors that influence wellbeing in diverse reception contexts can inform refugee policy and support services in Australia. Future research should refine this novel model and co-design media reporting guidelines that better support refugee resettlement in Australian society.