Cited by 634Migration, Health and TraumaMigration and Exile StudiesEducation and experiences of immigrants and refugees

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 80 of the 83 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Psychological Distress in Refugee Children: A Systematic Review

Bronstein, Israel, Montgomery, Paul·2011·Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review

Open this paper in CoChat — free account

Abstract

Nearly one-quarter of the refugees worldwide are children. There have been numerous studies reporting their levels of psychological distress. The aim of this paper is to review systematically and synthesize the epidemiological research concerning the mental health of refugee children residing in Western countries. A Cochrane Collaboration style review was conducted searching nine major databases, bibliographies, and grey literature from 2003 to 2008. Included studies had to meet the reporting standards of STROBE and investigate mental health in non-clinical samples of asylum seeking and refugee children residing in OECD countries. A total of twenty-two studies were identified of 4,807 retrieved citations, covering 3,003 children from over 40 countries. Studies varied in definition and measurement of problems, which included levels of post-traumatic stress disorder from 19 to 54%, depression from 3 to 30%, and varying degrees of emotional and behavioral problems. Significant factors influencing levels of distress appear to include demographic variables, cumulative traumatic pre-migration experiences, and post-migration stressors. Importantly, the research base demands greater contextual and methodological refining such that future research would have greater generalizability and clinical implications.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1007/s10567-010-0081-0

Cites

80 of 80 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

This paper’s full text isn’t openly available, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Statement: Guidelines for Reporting Observational Studies
von Elm, E., Altman, D. G., Egger, M., Pocock, S. J., Gøtzsche, P. C., Vandenbroucke, J. P., & Initiative, F. T. S. (2007) · PLoS Medicine · doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0040296 · Cited by 23,020
The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement: guidelines for reporting observational studies
von Elm, E., Altman, D. G., Egger, M., Pocock, S. J., Gøtzsche, P. C., Vandenbroucke, J. P., & Initiative, F. T. S. (2007) · Annals of Internal Medicine · doi:10.7326/0003-4819-147-8-200710160-00010 · Cited by 17,796
The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: A research note
Goodman, R. (1997) · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.1997.tb01545.x · Cited by 14,908
Impact of Event Scale: A Measure of Subjective Stress
Horowitz, M., Wilner, N., & Alvarez, W. (1979) · Psychosomatic Medicine · doi:10.1097/00006842-197905000-00004 · Cited by 7,813
Untitled work
(1988) · NFER-Nelson eBooks · Cited by 5,560
Untitled work
(1991) · Cited by 3,844
Resilience in the Face of Adversity
Rutter, M. L. (1985) · The British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/bjp.147.6.598 · Cited by 3,689
Prevalence of serious mental disorder in 7000 refugees resettled in western countries: a systematic review.
Fazel, M., Wheeler, J., & Danesh, J. (2005) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(05)61027-6 · Cited by 2,292
The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Statement: Guidelines for Reporting Observational Studies
von Elm, E., Altman, D. G., Egger, M., Pocock, S. J., Gøtzsche, P. C., & Vandenbroucke, J. P. (2007) · Epidemiology · doi:10.1097/ede.0b013e3181577654 · Cited by 1,991
Predisplacement and Postdisplacement Factors Associated With Mental Health of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons: A Meta-analysis
Porter, M., & Haslam, N. (2005) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.294.5.602 · Cited by 1,793

Show all 83 references

Research works printed but not linked: 14

Bean, T., Eurelings-Bontekoe, E., Derluyn, I., & Spinhoven, P. (2004a). Hopkins symptom checklist-37 for adolescents (HSCL-37A). User’s Manual (pp. 1–46).
Bean, T., Eurelings-Bontekoe, E., Derluyn, I., & Spinhoven, P. (2004b). Reactions of adolescents to traumatic stress questionnaire (RATS) user’s manual. Centrum ‘45 (pp. 1–40).
Bowling, A. (1995). Measuring disease. Buckingham: Open University Press.
Briere, J. (1996). Trauma symptom checklist for children (TSCC) professional manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.
Castles, S., Loughna, S., & Crawley, H. (2004). States of conflict: The causes of forced migration to the EU. London: Institute for Public Policy Research.
Department of Health. (1995). Unaccompanied asylum seeking children: A practice guide. London: Department of Health.
Department of Health. (2003). Guidance on accommodating children in need and their families. LAC (2003) 13. London: Department of Health.
Fischer, J., & Corcoran, K. (2007). Measures for clinical practice and research (1st ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Goldberg, D. P. (1978). Manual of the General Health Questionnaire. Windsor: NFER-Nelson.
Great Britain. (2008). Children and Young Persons Act 2008: Chapter 23. London: The Stationary Office.
Hart, J. (2008). Introduction. In Years of conflict (Vol. 25). Oxford: Berghahn Books.
Home Office. (2007). Asylum statistics United Kingdom 2006. Statistical Bulletin.
Landgraf, J. M., Abetz, L., & Ware, J. E. (1996). The Child Health Questionnaire user’s manual. Boston: The Health Institute, New England Medical Center.
Rodriguez, N., Steinberg, A. M., & Pynoos, R. S. (1999). UCLA PTSD Index for DSM-IV. Los Angeles, CA: University of California Los Angeles Trauma Psychiatry Service.

Sorted by citations

Items 201–300 of 632

Initiation of antidepressant use among refugee and Swedish-born youth after diagnosis of a common mental disorder: findings from the REMAIN study
Taipale, H. T., Niederkrotenthaler, T., Helgesson, M., Sijbrandij, M., Berg, L., Tanskanen, A. J., & Mittendorfer‐Rutz, E. (2020) · Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology · doi:10.1007/s00127-020-01951-4 · Cited by 16
The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire as a Mental Health Screening Tool for Newly Arrived Pediatric Refugees
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
Adaptation of the Vancouver Index of Acculturation to Turkish and Arabic
Bozdağ, F., & Bilge, F. (2020) · International Journal of Intercultural Relations · doi:10.1016/j.ijintrel.2020.11.002 · Cited by 16
“Hope for a better tomorrow”: Using photovoice to understand how Arab adolescents enact critical consciousness
Smith‐Appelson, J., Belgrade, A., Saleem, N., Ali, A., Seff, I., & Stark, L. (2023) · Journal of Community Psychology · doi:10.1002/jcop.23031 · Cited by 15
Refugee Status as a Possible Risk Factor for Childhood Enuresis
Jurković, M., Tomašković, I., Tomašković, M., Zore, B. S., Pavić, I., & Roić, A. C. (2019) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph16071293 · Cited by 15
“Numerous studies reported their levels of psychological distress [14] but specific data about the effect on enuresis are still scarce.”
Background
The role of word reading and oral language skills in reading comprehension in Syrian refugee children
Al‐Janaideh, R., Gottardo, A., Tibi, S., Paradis, J., & Chen, X. (2020) · Applied Psycholinguistics · doi:10.1017/s0142716420000284 · Cited by 25
“It is well known that refugee children are susceptible to academic, psychological, and social difficulties as a result of the challenges they experienced and continue to experience (Bronstein & Montgomery, 2011; Kalt, Hossain, Kiss, & Zimmerman, 2013; Tousignant et al., 1999).”
Background
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 17
Refugee Children and Interventions for Depression: A Review of Current Interventions and Implications of the Ecological Context
Simenec, T. S., & Reid, B. M. (2020) · Trauma Violence & Abuse · doi:10.1177/1524838020979844 · Cited by 15
“A substantial body of literature suggests that depression is an especially prevalent mental health concern for child refugees with rates of prevalence as high as 33% (Betancourt et al., 2017; Bronstein & Montgomery, 2011; Heptinstall et al., 2004; Nasıroğlu & Çeri, 2016; Reavell & Fazil, 2017).”
Background
Mental health need and psychiatric service utilization patterns of refugee children in Turkey: A comparative study
Fındık, O. T. P., Çeri, V., Ünver, H., Fiş, N. P., Arman, A. R., Beşer, C., Fadıloğlu, E., & Anagnostopoulos, D. C. (2021) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.105970 · Cited by 15
A Systematic Review of Autobiographical Memory and Mental Health Research on Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Khan, S. T., Kuhn, S., & Haque, S. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.658700 · Cited by 15
The Cambridge Handbook of Applied School Psychology
Worrell, T. L. H. F. C. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108235532 · Cited by 15
Effects of the asylum process on the mental health of unaccompanied young refugees – A scoping review
Hornfeck, F., Sowade, C., & Bovenschen, I. (2022) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106490 · Cited by 15
Social support and resilience among Burmese adolescent refugees: Examining ethnic identity searching and belonging as moderators
Cole, E., Su, S., Diaz, A., & Zhang, M. (2022) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106647 · Cited by 18
Investigating Outcomes of a Family Strengthening Intervention for Resettled Somali Bantu and Bhutanese Refugees: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study
Neville, S. E., DiClemente-Bosco, K., Chamlagai, L. K., Bunn, M., Freeman, J. A., Berent, J. M., Gautam, B., Abdi, A., & Betancourt, T. S. (2022) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph191912415 · Cited by 16
Understanding abusive child labor practices in the shadow of the Arab spring
Ganideh, S. F. A., & Good, L. K. (2015) · Journal of Children s Services · doi:10.1108/jcs-06-2014-0031 · Cited by 14
Psychische Belastung bei unbegleiteten jungen Geflüchteten in Jugendhilfeeinrichtungen
Sierau, S., Schneider, E., Nesterko, Y., von Klitzing, K., & Glaesmer, H. (2018) · Psychiatrische Praxis · doi:10.1055/a-0756-7970 · Cited by 14
“Aus internationalen Studien ist bekannt, dass sich psychische Auffälligkeiten mit zunehmender Aufenthaltsdauer verändern und insbesondere Postmigrationsstressoren wie der Mangel an persönlicher und struktureller Unterstützung, eingeschränkte Unterbringungsformen, Diskriminierungserfahrungen und geringe Sprachkenntniss…”
Background
Medicalising policy problems: the mental health needs of unaccompanied migrant young people
Chase, E., Rezaie, H., & Zada, G. (2019) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(19)31821-5 · Cited by 14
Adaptation and implementation of a parenting curriculum in a refugee/immigrant community using a task-shifting approach: a study protocol
Whitaker, D. J., Self‐Brown, S., Weeks, E. A., O’Connor, M. H., Lyons, M., Willging, C. E., Lee, N. H., Kumar, J. L., Joseph, H. L., Reidy, D. E., et al. (2021) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12889-021-11148-2 · Cited by 14
Effectiveness of psychosocial school interventions in Finnish schools for refugee and immigrant children, “Refugees Well School” in Finland (RWS-FI): a protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial
Kankaanpää, R., Aalto, S., Vänskä, M., Lepistö, R., Punamäki, R., Soye, E., Watters, C., Andersen, A. J., Hilden, P. K., Derluyn, I., et al. (2022) · Trials · doi:10.1186/s13063-021-05715-6 · Cited by 18
“After INSETT, we expect teachers’ improved skills to induce positive changes in three key areas: [1] promoting and supporting mental health and well-being among trauma-affected students with refugee and migration backgrounds, [2] encouraging students in positive interethnic relationships in linguistically and cultural…”
Background
Low-quality employment trajectories and the risk of common mental health disorders among individuals with Swedish and foreign background – a register-based cohort study
Pollack, R., Kreshpaj, B., Jönsson, J., Bodin, T., Gunn, V., Orellana, C., Östergren, P., Muntaner, C., & Santander, N. M. (2022) · Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment & Health · doi:10.5271/sjweh.4029 · Cited by 14
“First, migrant health needs, especially mental health, are often less visible or neglected and understudied in many areas (22, 23).”
Neurological Emergencies in Refugees
Brinckmann, M. P., van Noort, B. M., Leithner, C., & Ploner, C. J. (2018) · Frontiers in Neurology · doi:10.3389/fneur.2018.01088 · Cited by 14
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
Social and emotional learning (SEL) of newcomer and refugee students
McBrien, J. (2022) · OECD education working papers · doi:10.1787/a4a0f635-en · Cited by 19
Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression Among Children and Adolescents in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries—A Systematic Review
Ramdhonee‐Dowlot, K., Balloo, K., Morgül, E., & Essau, C. A. (2025) · Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice · doi:10.1176/appi.prcp.20250026 · Cited by 13
Renegotiating Identity and Agency in Everyday Oppression: Experiences of Forced Migrant Youth in Malaysia
Torok, D., & Ball, J. (2021) · The social science · doi:10.3390/socsci10080296 · Cited by 7
“…youth described reflect well-known hardships associated with forced migration, including losing sources of joy and important sociocultural connections (CPPCR 2009; Bronstein and Montgomery 2011; Soberano et al. 2018), youths’ perception and meaning making of positive experiences is less understood.”
Background
In the face of adversity: Refugee children’s traumatic stressors, trust, and prosocial behavior
Song, K., Song, J., & Malti, T. (2023) · International Journal of Behavioral Development · doi:10.1177/01650254231202438 · Cited by 14
“These rates are higher than those for general children and adolescent populations (for a review, see Bronstein & Montgomery, 2011).”
Background
Supporting social emotional learning and wellbeing of displaced adolescents from the middle east: a pilot evaluation of the ‘forward with peers’ intervention
Seff, I., Stark, L., Ali, A., Sarraf, D., Hassan, W., & Allaf, C. (2024) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-024-05544-2 · Cited by 13
“Combined migration stressors thus place these students at increased risk for poor mental health and compromised educational outcomes in the U.S in comparison totheir peers, affecting their overall wellbeing [6, 9].”
Background
Ukrainian refugee adolescents in Germany – A qualitative study on schooling experiences and the fulfillment of basic psychological needs
Chabursky, S., Gutt, J., & Guglhör-Rudan, A. (2024) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107582 · Cited by 25
Educating Somali Immigrant and Refugee Students: A Review of Cultural-Historical Issues and Related Psychoeducational Supports
Walick, C. M., & Sullivan, A. L. (2015) · Journal of Applied School Psychology · doi:10.1080/15377903.2015.1056921 · Cited by 14
“Exposure to such trauma may result in a variety of psychological sequelea that affect individuals’ psychosocial and academic functioning (Bronstein & Montgomery, 2011).”
Background
Associations between social factors and school belonging among newcomer and non-newcomer youth in Sweden
McDiarmid, S., Osman, F., Sarkadi, A., & Durbeej, N. (2023) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0280244 · Cited by 19
Parent-Child Nativity, Race, Ethnicity, and Common Mental Health Conditions Among United States Children and Adolescents
Zarei, K., Kahle, L., Buckman, D. W., Ohlis, A., Aradhya, S., Choi, K., & Williams, F. (2023) · The Journal of Pediatrics · doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2023.113618 · Cited by 13
Lessons Learned: Insights into One Teacher’s Experience Working with Karen Refugee Students in the United States
Gilhooly, D. (2015) · Journal of Southeast Asian American Education and Advancement · doi:10.7771/2153-8999.1121 · Cited by 13
Survival states as indicators of learning performance and biological stress in refugee children: a cross-sectional study with a comparison group
Hahnefeld, A., Sukale, T., Weigand, E., Münch, K., Aberl, S., Eckler, L. V., Schmidt, D., Friedmann, A., Plener, P. L., Fegert, J. M., et al. (2021) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-021-03233-y · Cited by 13
“both personal and familial [4, 5], for example war,”
Background
Forced Separation, Ruptured Kinship and Transnational Family
Shapiro, D. K., & Montgomery, E. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108602105.007 · Cited by 14
Impact evaluation of the evidence-based trauma stabilisation programme for refugee, asylum seeking and immigrant families
Gotseva-Balgaranova, K., Popivanov, I. D., & Mutafchieva, M. (2020) · Zeitschrift für Psychodrama und Soziometrie · doi:10.1007/s11620-020-00568-8 · Cited by 12
“The results from a systematic review about the psychological distress in refugee children showed that the level of PTSD varies from 1 to 54% and the level of depression varies from 3 to 30% (Bronstein and Montgomery 2011).”
Background
Are Syrian children integrated into our education?: Turkish teachers’ perspectives on the inclusive education project
Keskin, T. Ç., & Atay, D. (2023) · Diaspora Indigenous and Minority Education · doi:10.1080/15595692.2023.2270093 · Cited by 12
“Additionally, traumatic experiences that migrant children may have witnessed in their country of origin or throughout the migration process may have had an effect on their mental health and general well-being (Bronstein & Montgomery, 2011).”
Assessment of Suicide Risk and Cultural Considerations in Forcibly Displaced Migrant Youth
Diaz, A. D. (2024) · Academic Pediatrics · doi:10.1016/j.acap.2023.05.024 · Cited by 12
2. The Ethics of Performative Approaches in Intercultural Education
Frimberger, K. (2017) · Multilingual Matters eBooks · doi:10.21832/9781783098552-004 · Cited by 12
“This also includes pedagogical attention to the damage that the loss of ‘at-homeness’ (Lederach & Lederach, 2010) might have exerted on students’ minds (Bronstein & Montgomery, 2011; Halvorsen, 2002).”
Background
Unaccompanied minors’ needs and the child welfare response
Sanfelici, M., Wellman, B., & Mordeglia, S. (2020) · Journal of Social Work · doi:10.1177/1468017320958145 · Cited by 12
Practitioner competencies for working with refugee children and young people: A scoping review
Due, C., & Currie, E. (2021) · Transcultural Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/13634615211043765 · Cited by 12
Experiences of Violence, Perceptions of Neighborhood, and Psychosocial Adjustment Among West African Refugee Youth
O’Donnell, D. A., & Roberts, W. C. (2014) · International Perspectives in Psychology · doi:10.1037/ipp0000026 · Cited by 12
Refugee Children from the point of School Administrators and Teachers’ Experiences
Serin, H., & Bozdağ, F. (2020) · European Journal of Educational Research · doi:10.12973/eu-jer.9.4.1455 · Cited by 12
War, Torture and Trauma in Preadolescents from Gaza Strip. Two Different Modalities of PTSD
Manzanero, A. L., Aróztegui, J., Fernández, J., Guarch-Rubio, M., Álvarez, M. Á., El‐Astal, S., & Hemaid, F. (2024) · Anuario de Psicología Jurídica · doi:10.5093/apj2024a6 · Cited by 16
“Mental health studies indicate that minors from war zones often exhibit pathologies such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression (Bronstein & Montgomery, 2011; Dimitry, 2012; Slone & Mann, 2016).”
Background
Changes in peer belonging, school climate, and the emotional health of immigrant, refugee, and non‐immigrant early adolescents
Thomson, K., Magee, C., Gagné, M. H., Oberle, E., Georgiades, K., Schonert-Reichl, K. A., Janus, M., Guhn, M., & Gadermann, A. (2024) · Journal of Adolescence · doi:10.1002/jad.12390 · Cited by 15
“Young people with immigrant and refugee backgrounds have unique experiences and circumstances that may increase or decrease their risk of emotional health problems as they reach adolescence (Beiser et al., 2002; Bronstein & Montgomery, 2011).”
Psychosocial, emotional and behavioral problems, quality of life, and mental health care seeking behaviors among children and adolescents in Jordan: a national school-based survey
Khader, Y. S., Khudair, S. A., Tanaka, E., Kufoof, L., Nsour, M. A., Aqel, A., Maayeh, M., & Kharabsha, A. M. A. (2024) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1409158 · Cited by 11
Effects of a brief digital problem-solving intervention on depression and anxiety symptoms in Ukrainian children and adolescents displaced by war: a crossover, randomised controlled trial
Weisz, J. R., Steinberg, J. S., Sun, J., Mair, P., Fitzpatrick, O. M., Karapata, N., Yusyn, M., Sood, G., Danese, A., Adams, K. M., et al. (2025) · The Lancet Primary Care · doi:10.1016/j.lanprc.2025.100001 · Cited by 14
Effectiveness of Psychological Interventions on Young Refugees' Social Adjustment: A Meta-analysis
Forooshani, S. A., Izadikhah, Z., Renzaho, A. M. N., & O'Connor, P. J. (2019) · Journal of Refugee Studies · doi:10.1093/jrs/fez035 · Cited by 11
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
Effectiveness of Promotive and Preventive Psychosocial Interventions on Improving the Mental Health of Finnish-Born and Immigrant Adolescents
Peltonen, K., Aalto, S., Vänskä, M., Lepistö, R., Punamäki, R., Soye, E., Watters, C., Pastoor, L. D. W., Derluyn, I., & Kankaanpää, R. (2022) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph19063686 · Cited by 11
Structure and Agency in Swedish Municipalities’ Reception of Unaccompanied Minors
Lidén, G., & Nyhlén, J. (2015) · Journal of Refugee Studies · doi:10.1093/jrs/fev015 · Cited by 11
EMDR With Traumatized Refugees: From Experience-Based to Evidence-Based Practice
ter Heide, F. J. J., Mooren, T. T. M., Knipscheer, J. W., & Kleber, R. J. (2014) · Journal of EMDR Practice and Research · doi:10.1891/1933-3196.8.3.147 · Cited by 11
“The accumulation of stressors not only leaves refugees at higher risk of developing mental health problems than general populations (Bronstein & Montgomery, 2011; Fazel et al., 2005), economic migrants (Lindert, Von Ehrenstein, the basis of research with general populations, even when…”
Background
Adolescent Burmese Refugees Perspectives on Determinants of Health
Dixit, A., Miner, E. M., Wiehe, S. E., & McHenry, M. S. (2017) · Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health · doi:10.1007/s10903-017-0648-7 · Cited by 11
Review Paper: Mental Health Challenges in Immigrant and Refugee Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review
Keykaleh, M. S., Jahangiri, K., & Tabatabaie, S. (2017) · Health in Emergencies & Disasters Quarterly · doi:10.29252/nrip.hdq.3.1.3 · Cited by 11
Klinisch-psychologische Diagnostik in einer Flüchtlingsambulanz für Kinder und Jugendliche
Barthel, D., Ravens‐Sieberer, U., Schulte‐Markwort, M., Klasen, F., & Zindler, A. (2019) · Kindheit und Entwicklung · doi:10.1026/0942-5403/a000286 · Cited by 12
Beyond the vulnerability paradigm: fostering inter-professional and multi-agency cooperation in refugee education in Italy
Dovigo, F. (2019) · International Journal of Inclusive Education · doi:10.1080/13603116.2019.1707301 · Cited by 11
Common mental disorders among young refugees in Sweden: The role of education and duration of residency
Björkenstam, E., Helgesson, M., Nørredam, M. L., Sijbrandij, M., de Montgomery, C. J., & Mittendorfer‐Rutz, E. (2020) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2020.02.039 · Cited by 11
Transcultural differences of psychologically traumatised children and adolescents
Shrestha, A. K., Özlü-Erkilic, Z., Popow, C., Ohmann, S., & Akkaya-Kalayci, T. (2019) · Neuropsychiatrie · doi:10.1007/s40211-019-0300-y · Cited by 11
Infant Care Practices among Resettled Refugee Mothers from East and Central Africa
Bader, L. R., Ward, J., Fouts, H. N., & Jaekel, J. (2020) · Children · doi:10.3390/children7060063 · Cited by 10
“Resettlement also comes with potential difficulties for families, including cultural and language differences within the host country and psychological stress in both parents and children stemming from resettlement stress [3,4].”
Background
Integration of Newly Arrived Refugee Children into the German School System
Jäger, P., Ott, N., Brand, A. M., & Fereidooni, K. (2021) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph18157854 · Cited by 10
“Both the causes of flight and the flight itself are often associated with the experience of traumatic events in children with refugee backgrounds [17].”
Background
Salutogenic and Pathogenic Factors Among Young Adult Refugees in Germany: An Exploratory Study
Laufer, A., Böttche, M., Walg, M., Khatib, A., Maoz‐Dotan, C., Hassan, H., & Finkelstein, M. (2021) · Journal of Refugee Studies · doi:10.1093/jrs/feab110 · Cited by 10
‘After god, we give strength to each other’: young people’s experiences of coping in the context of unaccompanied forced migration
Scott, J. M., Mason, B. J., & Kelly, A. (2022) · Journal of Youth Studies · doi:10.1080/13676261.2022.2118033 · Cited by 14
“This includes a systematic review ﬁ nding that 19% − 54% of ‘ child refugees ’ met diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Bronstein and Montgomery 2011).”
Background
“Online delivery gave me privacy and distance from others”: feasibility trial and qualitative evaluation of an online intervention for refugees and asylum seekers; LTP + EMDR G‐TEP
Kaptan, S. K., Varese, F., Yılmaz, B., Andriopoulou, P., & Husain, N. (2022) · Counselling and Psychotherapy Research · doi:10.1002/capr.12580 · Cited by 12
Karen Resettlement: A Participatory Action Research Project
Gilhooly, D., & Lynn, C. A. (2014) · Journal of International Migration and Integration / Revue de l integration et de la migration internationale · doi:10.1007/s12134-014-0355-3 · Cited by 10
Family 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 11
Labour market marginalisation in young refugees and their majority peers in Denmark and Sweden: The role of common mental disorders and secondary school completion
de Montgomery, C. J., Nørredam, M. L., Krasnik, A., Petersen, J. H., Björkenstam, E., Berg, L., Hjern, A., Sijbrandij, M., Klimek, P., & Mittendorfer‐Rutz, E. (2022) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0263450 · Cited by 10
“Across refugee groups and host societies, refugee children have generally been found to have elevated levels of mental ill-health, including anxiety, depression and stress-related disorders, as well as high levels of externalising and internalising behaviour [3, 4].”
Psychische Auffälligkeiten von Flüchtlingskindern
Reinelt, T., Vasileva, M., & Petermann, F. (2016) · Kindheit und Entwicklung · doi:10.1026/0942-5403/a000207 · Cited by 10
Special Issue on “The Social Psychology of Forced Migration and Refugee Integration” in the European Journal of Social Psychology
Echterhoff, G., Hellmann, J. H., Back, M. D., Esses, V. M., & Wagner, U. (2019) · European Journal of Social Psychology · doi:10.1002/ejsp.2613 · Cited by 10
Canadian Nurse Graduates considering Migrating Abroad for Work: Are Their Expectations Being Met in Canada?
Freeman, M., Beaulieu, L., & Crawley, J. (2015) · Canadian Journal of Nursing Research · doi:10.1177/084456211504700407 · Cited by 9
The mental health of European adolescents with vs. without a migration background (2013–2024)–a systematic review
Lievrouw, S., Myin‐Germeys, I., & Achterhof, R. (2024) · European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1007/s00787-024-02589-2 · Cited by 9
“A strong identification with a person’s own culture may on the other hand buffer the negative effects of discrimination on mental health [33, 34, 61, 62].”
The importance of using reflective practice when working with refugees, asylum seekers and survivors of torture within IAPT
Brooks, M. (2019) · The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist · doi:10.1017/s1754470x19000023 · Cited by 9
“some, marginalization as a result of sexual orientation (Bhugra et al., 2010; Bronstein and Montgomery, 2011; Llosa et al., 2014).”
Background
The Interplay of Emotions, Executive Functions, Memory and Language: Challenges for Refugee Children
Franck, J., & Delage, H. (2022) · Languages · doi:10.3390/languages7040309 · Cited by 13
Psychological Difficulties among Children and Adolescents with Ethnic Danish, Immigrant, and Refugee Backgrounds
Leth, I., Niclasen, J., Ryding, E., Baroud, Y., & Esbjarn, B. H. (2013) · Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology · doi:10.21307/sjcapp-2014-005 · Cited by 9
“findings indicate that being a refugee or being the child of a refugee parent may increase an individual’s risk of experiencing mental health problems (15).”
Background
The Best Interests of the Child from Different Cultural Perspectives: Factors Influencing Judgements of the Quality of Child-Rearing Environment and Construct Validity of the Best Interests of the Child-Questionnaire (BIC-Q) in Kosovo and Albania
Zevulun, D., Post, W. J., Zijlstra, E. A., Kalverboer, M., & Knorth, E. J. (2018) · Child Indicators Research · doi:10.1007/s12187-018-9543-6 · Cited by 9
“…of their best interests in accordance with article 3 CRC. Migrant children may have faced adverse experiences during their lives before their migration, during their migration, and during their stay in the host country (Bronstein and Montgomery 2011; Fazel et al. 2012; Van Os et al. 2016).”
Background
Resilienztraining für unbegleitete minderjährige Flüchtlinge
Scheiber, B., Greinz, G., Hillebrand, J. B., Wilhelm, F. H., & Jens Blechert, A. (2019) · Kindheit und Entwicklung · doi:10.1026/0942-5403/a000287 · Cited by 9
Is the Refugee Health Screener a Useful Tool when Screening 14- to 18-Year-Old Refugee Adolescents for Emotional Distress?
Sarkadi, A., Bjärtå, A., Leiler, A., & Salari, R. (2018) · Journal of Refugee Studies · doi:10.1093/jrs/fey072 · Cited by 9
Post-traumatic stress disorder in refugee minors in an outpatient care center: prevalence and associated factors
Veeser, J., Barkmann, C., Schumacher, L., Zindler, A., Schön, G., & Barthel, D. (2021) · European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1007/s00787-021-01866-8 · Cited by 7
“The experience of such potentially traumatic events puts refugee youth at risk of developing mental health problems, with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) being one of the most prevalent psychological disorders among refugee children and adolescents [2, 5].”
Background
Research into unaccompanied refugee minors in family foster care: Promoting adaptive functioning?
Trenson, R., Vanderfaeillie, J., Thiele, A.-K., Trogh, L., & Holen, F. V. (2022) · Child & Family Social Work · doi:10.1111/cfs.12943 · Cited by 10
Exposure to Trauma and Forced Migration: Mental Health and Acculturation Patterns Among Asylum Seekers in Israel
Lurie, I., & Nakash, O. (2015) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-17335-1_10 · Cited by 10
Sleep and psycho-behavioral problems in internally displaced children in Georgia
Sakhelashvili, I., Eliozishvili, M., Oniani, N., Darchia, N., & Bruni, O. (2018) · Sleep Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2018.05.013 · Cited by 9
Examining cognitive behavioral therapy interventions for unaccompanied minors: a systematic review and qualitative research synthesis.
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 9
Interviewing Asylum-Seeking Children: A Scoping Review of Research to Inform Best Practices
Chilliak, S., Musacchio, S., Montreuil, T. C., & Williams, S. (2024) · Trauma Violence & Abuse · doi:10.1177/15248380241260014 · Cited by 8
“Mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety, and sleep difficulties have also been identified in children seeking asylum (Blackmore et al., 2020; Montgomery, 2011).”
Background
Sources of resilience for refugee youth in Ethiopia: Exploring the role of education, work, community, religion, and family
Fisseha, S. E., López, M. L., ten Brummelaar, M., & Hibiso, H. W. (2024) · Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106978 · Cited by 8
Assessing educational difficulties of students from refugee backgrounds: a case study approach
Khawaja, N. G., & Howard, G. (2020) · Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools · doi:10.1017/jgc.2020.2 · Cited by 9
“…students may experience migration-related challenges and resettlement difficulties; refugees are more vulnerable due to war-related trauma and psychological distress (Bronstein & Montgomery, 2011; Graham, Minhas, & Paxton, 2016; Kaplan, Stolk, Valibhoy, Tucker, & Baker, 2016; Measham et al., 2014).”
Background
Delivering therapy over telephone in a humanitarian setting: a pilot randomized controlled trial of common elements treatment approach (CETA) with Syrian refugee children in Lebanon
Pluess, M., McEwen, F. S., Biazoli, C. E., Chehade, N., Bosqui, T. J., Skavenski, S. V. W., Murray, L. K., Weierstall‐Pust, R., Bolton, P. A., & Karam, E. G. (2024) · Conflict and Health · doi:10.1186/s13031-024-00616-2 · Cited by 8
“…are at a heightened risk of developing mental disorders, often attributable to the protracted conflicts and adverse conditions in their countries of origin [3], the traumatic stressors endured during their flight [4], and the challenging living conditions experienced within refugee settlements [5].”
Background
Is the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire with a Trauma Supplement a Valuable Tool in Screening Refugee Children for Mental Health Problems?
Fängström, K., Dahlberg, A., Ådahl, K., Rask, H., Salari, R., Sarkadi, A., & Durbeej, N. (2019) · Journal of Refugee Studies · doi:10.1093/jrs/fey073 · Cited by 10
Begleitete minderjährige Geflüchtete
Piegenschke, K., Sihorsch, M., & Christiansen, H. (2019) · Kindheit und Entwicklung · doi:10.1026/0942-5403/a000285 · Cited by 8
Wirksamkeit des Stabilisierungstrainings für jugendliche Flüchtlinge mit Traumafolgestörungen: Eine randomisierte Kontrollgruppenstudie
Walg, M., Angern, J. S., Michalak, J., & Hapfelmeier, G. (2020) · Zeitschrift für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und Psychotherapie · doi:10.1024/1422-4917/a000749 · Cited by 8
Integration from the perspective of young women who came to Sweden as unaccompanied asylum-seeking girls from Afghanistan. An interpretative phenomenological analysis
Hosseini, M., & Punzi, E. H. (2021) · European Journal of Social Work · doi:10.1080/13691457.2021.1954888 · Cited by 8
“Research concerning UASC however tends to focus on boys (Bronstein & Montgomery, 2011; Jakobsen et al., 2017).”
Background
The posttraumatic stress interview for children (KID-PIN): development and validation of a semi-structured interview of PTSD symptoms among displaced children in the Middle East
Ibrahim, H., Catani, C., & Neuner, F. (2021) · PeerJ · doi:10.7717/peerj.12403 · Cited by 9
Immigrant Youth Life Stressors
Staudenmeyer, A. H., Macciomei, E., Cid, M. V. D., & Patel, S. G. (2016) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-24693-2_1 · Cited by 8
Meeting the Psychosocial Needs of Child Refugees During Resettlement in Germany
Murray, J. S. (2016) · Issues in Mental Health Nursing · doi:10.1080/01612840.2016.1175039 · Cited by 8
“The cumulative effects of these life stressors represent one of the most important predictors of long-term psychosocial adjustment (Bronstein & Montgomery, 2011; Henley & Robinson, 2011).”
Background
Entscheidungshilfe zur Therapieplanung bei jugendlichen Flüchtlingen und Asylbewerbern mit Traumafolgestörungen in der ambulanten Praxis
Reher, C., & Metzner, F. (2016) · Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie · doi:10.13109/prkk.2016.65.10.707 · Cited by 8
Clinical profile and care pathways among unaccompanied minor asylum seekers in Vaud, Switzerland
Genton, P. C., Wang, J., Bodenmann, P., & Ambresin, A. (2019) · International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health · doi:10.1515/ijamh-2019-0140 · Cited by 8
Family bonds in the midst of adversity: Insights into refugee children’s coping ways
Grigoropoulos, I. N. (2020) · Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/1359104520964508 · Cited by 8
“Previous research findings show that refugee children are more likely to be exposed to a wide range of adversities or traumatic events (Bronstein & Montgomery, 2011).”
Background
Using clinical expertise and empirical data in constructing networks of trauma symptoms in refugee youth
Schumacher, L., Burger, J., Zoellner, F., Zindler, A., Epskamp, S., & Barthel, D. (2021) · European Journal of Psychotraumatology · doi:10.1080/20008198.2021.1920200 · Cited by 9
The Hidden Classroom: How Gender Stereotypes Impact Academic Achievement
Gonzalez, A. M., Oh, J. H. J., & Baron, A. S. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108235532.018 · Cited by 11
“The schools try, but…”: A holistic perspective on the social adaptation of Ukrainian refugee students in Czech schools
Hlaďo, P., Lojdová, K., Obrovská, J., Šeďová, K., Lintner, T., Fico, M., & Ступак, О. (2024) · Learning Culture and Social Interaction · doi:10.1016/j.lcsi.2024.100854 · Cited by 7
“ Living their best life ”: PhotoVoice insights on well-being, inclusion, and access to public spaces among adolescent refugee girls in urban resettlement
Gillespie, A., Abu-Rubieh, Z., Coll, L., Matti, M., Allaf, C., Seff, I., & Stark, L. (2024) · International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being · doi:10.1080/17482631.2024.2431183 · Cited by 9
“This intersection has presented unique complexities, as adolescents are, by nature, at a developmental stage marked by rapid cognitive, emotional, and social changes (Bronstein & Montgomery, 2011; Fazel et al., 2012).”
Supporting the mental health of forcibly displaced children
Pluess, M., Brown, F. L., & Panter‐Brick, C. (2025) · Nature Reviews Psychology · doi:10.1038/s44159-025-00447-9 · Cited by 11
“Prospective, longitudinal studies are essential: cross-sectional research cannot clarify how poor mental health can be improved over the life-course 19,34 , and cannot accurately identify the mechanisms that shape positive and negative outcomes 7,11 .”
Influential
Methods for a longitudinal cohort of refugee children in a regional community in Australia
Zwi, K. J., Rungan, S., Woolfenden, S. R., Williams, K. J., & Woodland, L. (2016) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-011387 · Cited by 7

Authors: Bronstein, I., & Montgomery, P.
Affiliations: University of Oxford (GB)
Corresponding author: Bronstein, Israel
ORCID: Bronstein, Israel
Montgomery, Paul
Venue: Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2011-03
Volume: 14
Issue: 1
Pages: 44-56
ISSN: 1096-4037 (ISSN-L)
1573-2827
DOI: 10.1007/s10567-010-0081-0
OpenAlex: W2099969597
Cited by: 634
References: 83
Citations by year: 2026: 26 · 2025: 34 · 2024: 44 · 2023: 60 · 2022: 53 · 2021: 65 · 2020: 128 · 2019: 50 · 2018: 35 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 35 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 10
FWCI: 1.21
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations: Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Migration and Exile Studies
Social Sciences › Education › Education and experiences of immigrants and refugees
Keywords: refugee children, psychological distress, mental health, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, emotional and behavioral problems, asylum seekers, pre-migration trauma, post-migration stressors, Western countries
MeSH terms: Age Factors, Child, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Refugees, Sex Factors, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Stress, Psychological, Resilience, Psychological

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

Psychological Distress in Refugee Children: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Overview

Integrity signals

Verification

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Citations

Cites

Cited by

Related

Metadata

Record

About these checks