PTSD in asylum-seeking male adolescents from Afghanistan
Abstract
This study concerned the mental health of Afghan unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the United Kingdom (UK). Afghans are the largest group of children seeking asylum in the UK, yet evidence concerning their mental health is limited. This study presents an estimate of probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) within this group and describes its associations with the cumulative effect of premigration traumatic events, immigration/asylum status, and social care living arrangements. Male adolescents (N = 222) aged 13-18 years completed validated self-report screening measures for traumatic experiences and likely PTSD. One-third (34.3%) scored above a selected cutoff, suggesting that they are likely to have PTSD. A higher incidence of premigration traumatic events was associated with greater PTSD symptomatology. Children living in semi-independent care arrangements were more likely to report increased PTSD symptoms when compared to their peers in foster care. A substantial majority in this study did not score above the cutoff, raising the possibility of notable levels of resilience. Future research should consider approaching mental health issues from a resilience perspective to further the understanding of protective mechanisms for this at-risk population.
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A study on Afghan adolescent refugees found that about one third scored above cut-off for a diagnosis of PTSD.
“while a study on Afghan adolescent refugees found that about one third scored above cut-off for a diagnosis of PTSD (Bronstein et al., 2012).”
From Investigating the potential of a novel internet-based cognitive behavioural intervention for Dari and Farsi speaking refugee youth: A feasibility study (2022) · cites this paper as Bronstein et al., 2012
More than 80% of unaccompanied minors are frequently diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, followed by depression and anxiety disorders.
“more than 80% of UM, are frequently diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), followed by depression and anxiety disorders [7, 8]”
From Examining cognitive behavioral therapy interventions for unaccompanied minors: a systematic review and qualitative research synthesis. (2025) · cites this paper as [7]
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Guajardo, M. G. U., Kelly, C., Bond, K. S., Thomson, R. J., & Slewa‐Younan, S. (2019) · International Journal of Mental Health Systems · doi:10.1186/s13033-019-0329-0 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Hanewald, B., Knipper, M., Fleck, W., Pons‐Kühnemann, J., Hahn, E. W., Ta, T. M. T., Brosig, B., Gallhofer, B., Mulert, C., & Stingl, M. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00324 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Oberg, C. N., & Sharma, H. (2023) · Children · doi:10.3390/children10060941 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
“[21] PTSD in Asylum-Seeking Male Adolescents from Afghanistan J Traumatic Stress, 2012; 25: 551 Cross-sectional 222 222 0 PTSD (RATS) 34.”
BackgroundThe Social Worker's Role in the Context of Forced Migration: A Global Perspective
Diaconu, M., Racovita-Szilagyi, L., & Bryan, B. A. (2016) · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Thommessen, S. A. O., Corcoran, P., & Todd, B. K. (2017) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.08.017 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Zijlstra, E. A., Menninga, M., Os, E., Rip, J., Knorth, E. J., & Kalverboer, M. (2018) · Residential Treatment for Children & Youth · doi:10.1080/0886571x.2018.1559118 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
“British research among unaccompanied children confirmed that those living with foster families had significantly fewer trauma-related symptoms than their peers in semi-independent care arrangements (Bronstein et al., 2012).”
BackgroundTransnational family life of displaced unaccompanied minors – A systematic review
Seidel, F. A., Hettich, N., & James, S. (2022) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106649 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Copolov, C., Knowles, A. D., & Meyer, D. (2017) · Australian Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1111/ajpy.12171 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
“…absence of trauma symptoms and resilience supports previous Australian research with an ethnically diverse young refugee sample and with a Sudanese refugee sample, who reported using coping strategies and resilience to reduce trauma symptoms over time (Brough et al., 2003; Schweitzer et al., 2007).”
ResultZevulun, D., Post, W. J., Zijlstra, E. A., Kalverboer, M., & Knorth, E. J. (2017) · Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies · doi:10.1080/1369183x.2017.1391076 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
“In addition, the children participating in this study lived in different host countries within the European Union – with each country having different policies and measures regarding asylum seekers (Bronstein, Montgomery, and Dobrowolski 2012; EMN 2014) and return assistance (Beltman 2012).”
BackgroundHeimli, O. M., Kvestad, I., Bøe, T., Sayyad, N., Nilsen, S. A., Randal, S. B., & Askeland, K. G. (2024) · European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1007/s00787-023-02364-9 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
“In previous studies, high support living arrangements such as foster care were protective in terms of mental health outcomes [12, 18, 19, 22, 27].”
BackgroundResultInfluentialMental health and care needs of British children and young people aged 6–17
Fledderjohann, J., Erlam, J., Knowles, B., & Broadhurst, K. (2021) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106033 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Solberg, Ø., Sengoelge, M., Johnson-Singh, C. M., Vaez, M., Eriksson, A.-K., & Saboonchi, F. (2021) · Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology · doi:10.1007/s00127-021-02050-8 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
“Unaccompanied Afghan minors in the United Kingdom reported high rates of separation from their family (61%) and losing loved ones (80%), indicating the high stress burden [52].”
BackgroundUnaccompanied refugee minors and foster care: A narrative literature review
Holen, F. V., Trogh, L., Carlier, E., Gypen, L., & Vanderfaeillie, J. (2019) · Child & Family Social Work · doi:10.1111/cfs.12716 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Green, A. E., Weinberger, S., & Harder, V. S. (2020) · Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health · doi:10.1007/s10903-020-01082-7 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Verroken, S., Schotte, C., Derluyn, I., & Baetens, I. (2018) · Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health · doi:10.1186/s13034-018-0260-1 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Holen, F. V., Trogh, L., West, D., Meys, N., & Vanderfaeillie, J. (2018) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.11.043 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
The Role of Family Functioning in Refugee Child and Adult Mental Health
Hodes, M., & Hussain, N. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108602105.003 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Hornfeck, F., Sowade, C., & Bovenschen, I. (2022) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106490 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Rip, J., Zijlstra, E. A., Post, W. J., Kalverboer, M., & Knorth, E. J. (2020) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105408 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Kerbl, R., Grois, N., Popow, C., Somekh, E., & Ehrich, J. H. H. (2018) · The Journal of Pediatrics · doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2018.03.061 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Working with refugee families, trauma and exile in family relationships
Hodgson, S. V. (2020) · Medicine Conflict & Survival · doi:10.1080/13623699.2020.1809066 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Bezerra, C. B., Borges, L. M., & Cunha, M. P. (2018) · CES Psicología · doi:10.21615/cesp.12.2.3 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Forced Separation, Ruptured Kinship and Transnational Family
Shapiro, D. K., & Montgomery, E. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108602105.007 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Applying the ADAPT Psychosocial Model to War-Affected Children and Adolescents
Yohani, S. C. (2015) · SAGE Open · doi:10.1177/2158244015604189 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
“In a study of asylum seeking adolescents from Afghanistan in the United Kingdom (Bronstein et al., 2012), foster care was found to be negatively associated with PTSD. Highly committed foster parents are also crucial, as noted in studies of unaccompanied refugee youth in foster care in United Kingdom (Wade, Sirriyeh, K…”
BackgroundResultInfluentialPosttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among Male Adolescents in Baghdad
Aziz, R. K. L. Z. S. (2014) · Journal of Psychological Abnormalities in Children · doi:10.4172/2329-9525.1000121 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
“In a UK study, PTSD was associated with the cumulative effects of pre- and postimmigration stressors among asylum-seeking male adolescents from Afghanistan, the researchers in this study suggested that 34% of the male adolescents were likely to have PTSD [14].”
Gokani, R., Wiebe, S. A., Sherzad, H., & Akesson, B. (2023) · Religions · doi:10.3390/rel14050645 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Transgenerational Trauma Transmission in Refugee Families
Dalgaard, N. T., Thøgersen, M. H., & Riber, K. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108602105.004 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Psychological morbidity among forcibly displaced children—a literature review
Cayabyab, C. R., O’Reilly, P., Murphy, A.-M., & O’Gorman, C. S. (2020) · Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -) · doi:10.1007/s11845-020-02186-7 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Larios, D. B. (2024) · BMC Psychology · doi:10.1186/s40359-024-01987-0 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
“Even though refugees may be more affected by war and conflict than other migrant groups and the general population [68], changes in health due to the process of migration and the connections to their home countries (family and friends) persist long after flight and resettlement [16, 45, 69, 70].”
BackgroundHynek, N., Franczukowska, A., Rössl, L., Schreder, G., Faustmann, A., Krczal, E., Skrivanek, I., Sommer, I., & Zenk, L. (2020) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph17145058 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
“In one study, living in foster care was associated with higher PTSD symptoms than was living more independently [34].”
BackgroundFamily Relationships and Intra-family Expectations in Unaccompanied Young Refugees
Derluyn, I., & Ang, W. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108602105.008 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Holen, F. V., Blijkers, C., Trogh, L., West, D., & Vanderfaeillie, J. (2019) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104736 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Morroni, D., Konstantinou, P., Gkleka, C., Kassianos, A. P., & Karekla, M. (2025) · European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1007/s00787-024-02500-z · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“…in this population suggests that more than 80% of UM, are frequently diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), followed by depression and anxiety disorders [7, 8], traumatic grief and general behavioural problems (i.e., violent or aggres - sive behavior, breaking rules, fighting; [9].”
Family-School Relationships in Supporting Refugee Children’s School Trajectories
Fazel, M. S., & O’Higgins, A. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108602105.019 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Trauma Narration in Family Therapy with Refugees
Haene, L. D., Adriaenssens, P., Deruddere, N., & Rober, P. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108602105.011 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Haene, L. D., & Rousseau, C. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108602105.002 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Ziyachi, M., & Castellani, B. C. (2024) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph21050650 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Place, V., Assel, K. V., Hagström, A., Gubi, E., Augustsson, H., Dalman, C., & Hollander, A. (2021) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-052820 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Pre- and Post-migration Trauma and Adversity
Cissé, A., Haene, L. D., Keatley, E. S., & Rasmussen, A. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108602105.005 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Holen, F. V., Dewilde, I., Trogh, L., Verheyden, C., & Vanderfaeillie, J. (2021) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106129 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Posttraumatic stress among Eritrean unaccompanied refugee minors in Ethiopia
Arega, N. T. (2020) · International Journal of Migration Health and Social Care · doi:10.1108/ijmhsc-02-2020-0016 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Mobilizing Resources in Multifamily Groups
Mooren, T. T. M., & Bala, J. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108602105.009 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Working with Spirituality in Refugee Care
Fung, K. P.-L., Mok, M., & Phorn, V. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108602105.013 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Collaborative Mental Health Care for Refugee Families in a School Context
Papazian-Zohrabian, G., Mamprin, C., Turpin-Samson, A., & Lemire, V. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108602105.020 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Interrogating Legality and Legitimacy in the Post-migratory Context
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Cultural Belonging and Political Mobilization in Refugee Families
Kevers, R., & Rober, P. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108602105.006 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Forced separation, ruptured kinship and transnational family life
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Re-building Trust and Connectedness in Exile
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Supporting Refugee Family Reunification in Exile
Sveaass, N., & Reichelt, S. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108602105.015 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
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Working through Trauma and Restoring Security in Refugee Parent-Child Relationships
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Amplifying Our Engagement with Refugee Families Beyond the Therapeutic Space
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Reflexivity in the Everyday Lives and Work of Refugees and Therapists
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Mental Health Assessments for Resettled Afghan Children and Adolescents
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Lafta, B., Aziz, Z. S., & AlObaidi, A. (2014)
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- Authors
- Bronstein, I., Montgomery, P., & Dobrowolski, S.
- Affiliations
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Bronstein, Israel
- Venue
- Journal of Traumatic Stress
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2012-10
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 551-557
- ISSN
- 0894-9867 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-6598
- OpenAlex
- W1902270322
- Cited by
- 121
- References
- 63
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 35 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 6.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Traumatic Stress (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
- Keywords
- post-traumatic stress disorder, asylum-seeking children, unaccompanied minors, Afghan refugees, adolescent boys, immigration status, foster care, resilience, mental health screening, United Kingdom
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Afghanistan, Cross-Sectional Studies, United Kingdom, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Refugees, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
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