Resilience and discrimination: unravelling the multifaceted nature of refugee health in Germany

Abstract The complex topic of health involves various determinants that impact refugees differently from the general population. Refugees' experience itself serves as a determinant, interacting with individual and socio-economic factors throughout the migratory cycle, making them particularly v...

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Main Authors: Daria Mendola, Annalisa Busetta
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-06-01
Series:Genus
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41118-025-00252-5
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author Daria Mendola
Annalisa Busetta
author_facet Daria Mendola
Annalisa Busetta
author_sort Daria Mendola
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The complex topic of health involves various determinants that impact refugees differently from the general population. Refugees' experience itself serves as a determinant, interacting with individual and socio-economic factors throughout the migratory cycle, making them particularly vulnerable. The theoretical contribution of this study lies in its focus on resilience as a key protective factor for refugee health. It deepens the understanding of how resilience can be related to health and its relationship with discrimination and loneliness. This study focuses on refugees in Germany and, via a structural equation model with data from the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey of Refugees, drives our attention to the many critical dimensions of refugees’ reception, not only as material support but also as a positive interrelation between refugees and the host society. Among the main results, it stands out how feeling or being discriminated against, as well as experiencing social isolation and suffering the distance from friends, worsens refugees’ health directly. Moreover, discrimination increases the feeling of loneliness, further contributing to poorer health. In this framework, resilience has been proven to play a role in smoothing hard times in refugees’ lives.
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spelling doaj-art-a8ce1d988f9f4056af06ba4e75e8bcd62025-08-20T02:30:45ZengSpringerOpenGenus2035-55562025-06-0181111910.1186/s41118-025-00252-5Resilience and discrimination: unravelling the multifaceted nature of refugee health in GermanyDaria Mendola0Annalisa Busetta1Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement (SPPEFF)Department of Economics, Business and Statistics (SEAS), University of PalermoAbstract The complex topic of health involves various determinants that impact refugees differently from the general population. Refugees' experience itself serves as a determinant, interacting with individual and socio-economic factors throughout the migratory cycle, making them particularly vulnerable. The theoretical contribution of this study lies in its focus on resilience as a key protective factor for refugee health. It deepens the understanding of how resilience can be related to health and its relationship with discrimination and loneliness. This study focuses on refugees in Germany and, via a structural equation model with data from the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey of Refugees, drives our attention to the many critical dimensions of refugees’ reception, not only as material support but also as a positive interrelation between refugees and the host society. Among the main results, it stands out how feeling or being discriminated against, as well as experiencing social isolation and suffering the distance from friends, worsens refugees’ health directly. Moreover, discrimination increases the feeling of loneliness, further contributing to poorer health. In this framework, resilience has been proven to play a role in smoothing hard times in refugees’ lives.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41118-025-00252-5HealthRefugeeLonelinessPerceived discriminationIAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey of Refugees in GermanySEM
spellingShingle Daria Mendola
Annalisa Busetta
Resilience and discrimination: unravelling the multifaceted nature of refugee health in Germany
Genus
Health
Refugee
Loneliness
Perceived discrimination
IAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey of Refugees in Germany
SEM
title Resilience and discrimination: unravelling the multifaceted nature of refugee health in Germany
title_full Resilience and discrimination: unravelling the multifaceted nature of refugee health in Germany
title_fullStr Resilience and discrimination: unravelling the multifaceted nature of refugee health in Germany
title_full_unstemmed Resilience and discrimination: unravelling the multifaceted nature of refugee health in Germany
title_short Resilience and discrimination: unravelling the multifaceted nature of refugee health in Germany
title_sort resilience and discrimination unravelling the multifaceted nature of refugee health in germany
topic Health
Refugee
Loneliness
Perceived discrimination
IAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey of Refugees in Germany
SEM
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s41118-025-00252-5
work_keys_str_mv AT dariamendola resilienceanddiscriminationunravellingthemultifacetednatureofrefugeehealthingermany
AT annalisabusetta resilienceanddiscriminationunravellingthemultifacetednatureofrefugeehealthingermany