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
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.
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In the citing paper
“Previous research has documented increased post-traumatic stress and depression levels among refugee youth (Bronstein and Montgomery, 2011).”
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 and Montgomery, 2011
In the citing paper
“The decision to investigate an individually tailored intervention potentially addresses the high comorbidity among refugee youth (Bronstein and Montgomery, 2011; Păsărelu et al., 2017).”
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 and Montgomery, 2011
In the citing paper
“More than half of refugees are children who are at increased risk for the development of mental disorders (Bronstein & Montgomery, 2011; Charlson et al., 2019).”
From Feasibility trial of a scalable transdiagnostic group psychological intervention for Syrians residing in a refugee camp (2021) · cites this paper as Bronstein & Montgomery, 2011
In the citing paper
“and thus female gender may be a risk factor for the development of PTSD and depression [4].”
From Examining cognitive behavioral therapy interventions for unaccompanied minors: a systematic review and qualitative research synthesis. (2025) · cites this paper as [4]
In the citing paper
“Many reports indicate that refugee youth experience high rates of psychological distress [14–16].”
From Effectiveness of a brief group behavioral intervention for common mental disorders in Syrian refugees in Jordan: a randomized controlled trial (2022) · cites this paper as [14]
Citations
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 601–632 of 632
Akın, K., Ergün, E., Atagül, M. G., Özen, R. B., Özbayrak, G., & Yaman, Ö. M. (2025) · Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi · doi:10.16953/deusosbil.1516571
Morroni, D., Charalambous, E., & Karekla, M. (2025) · Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science · doi:10.1016/j.jcbs.2025.100919 · Cited by 1
Immigrant youth and mental health: accessibility and impact
Zavala, P. A. (2025) · doi:10.46569/k0698h989
Time and reason of exit of minors from a refugee centre: the role of family links
Stranges, M., & Wolff, F. (2025) · Genus · doi:10.1186/s41118-025-00255-2
Chwastek, S., Leyendecker, B., Jugert, P., McElvany, N., & Busch, J. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1550107
“…important stressors might be flight-related such as having experienced traumatic events or an uncertain residency status (e.g., Baker et al., 2021; Bronstein and Montgomery, 2011), RRI parents’ most frequent stressors were time constraints and responsibility for their children or household chores.”
InfluentialTutlam, N. T., Liyew, T., Betancourt, T. S., Powell, B. J., Guo, S., McKay, M. M., & Ssewamala, F. M. (2025) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2025-108824
Semadeni, D., Maercker, A. R. A., Grieco, U. H., & Bachem, R. (2025) · Trauma und Gewalt · doi:10.21706/tg-19-4-336
Beherec, S. L., Bernhardt, K., Uppendahl, J. R., Klosinski, M., Mall, V., & Hahnefeld, A. (2025) · European Journal of Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1080/17405629.2025.2580655
“Hence, the importance of post-migration stressors (Bronstein & Montgomery, 2011; Hynie, 2018), home-based cognitive stimulation (Andrade et al., 2005; Makharia et al., 2016; Rakesh et al., 2024), and socio-economic status (Korous et al., 2022) should be considered.”
Laoire, C. N. (2025) · doi:10.1093/obo/9780199791231-0302
Additional file 1 of Young children’s development after forced displacement: a systematic review
Bernhardt, K., Beherec, S. L., Uppendahl, J. R., Fleischmann, M., Klosinski, M., Rivera, L. M., Samaras, G., Kenney, M., Müller, R., Nehring, I., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26675627
Löfving, S. G., Alsaqa, F., Sarkadi, A., Inge, E., Pérez‐Aronsson, A., Tökés, A., & Warner, G. (2026) · Pilot and Feasibility Studies · doi:10.1186/s40814-025-01753-y
“The situational vulnerabilities experienced before migration, during transit, and after resettlement have resulted in a high prevalence of post-traumatic stress symptoms in refugee children [2–4].”
Cavagnoud, R., Ames, P., & Alegre, M. H. (2025) · Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies · doi:10.1080/15562948.2025.2543536
DEĞİRMENCİOĞLU, B. (2026) · Çukurova Üniversitesi Hukuk Araştırmaları Dergisi · doi:10.59399/cuhad.1793556
Warner, G., Löfving, S. G., & Geijer‐Simpson, E. (2026) · Internet Interventions · doi:10.1016/j.invent.2026.100918
García, M. F., Piñeros-Leaño, M., Mejía‐Trujillo, J., Schwartz, S. J., Pérez‐Gómez, A., Bates, M. M., Calderon, I. A., Maldonado‐Molina, M. M., & Salas‐Wright, C. P. (2026) · Journal of Adolescence · doi:10.1002/jad.70136
Invisible Patients: Addressing the Healthcare Needs of Forcibly Displaced Children
Kuang, X., Farooq, T., Williams, J. C., & Sheth, N. (2026) · JAACAP Connect · doi:10.62414/001c.159155
Beyond pedagogical challenges for refugee academic success in the Global North: A literature review
Maraj, A., & Hashemi, N. (2026) · Prospects · doi:10.1007/s11125-025-09754-8
“Because trauma impairs healthy development and causes various behavioral issues (Bronstein & Montgomery, 2011; Kaplan et al., 2016; Lamb et al., 2019; Zilberstein, 2014), the disruption and upheaval displaced people endure, along with their profound human impact, cannot be overlooked.”
Drake, G., Greene, M. C., & Murdoch, A. (2026) · PLOS mental health. · doi:10.1371/journal.pmen.0000602
A qualitative study of the experiences of newcomer youth in the STRONG intervention
Saltzman, M., Chiodo, D., & King, C. B. (2026) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2026.109023
Roszik-Volovik, X., Brandão, A. P., & Balázs, J. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-21028-9_12
Psychosocial interventions for adolescents in forced migration: A scoping review protocol
Onietan, D., Harri, B. I., Sodunke, T. E., Anjorin, O., Seedu, T., Duke, A. E. E., & Eboreime, E. (2026) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0349506
“Most existing research tends to aggregate data across age groups or focuses primarily on either children or adults, thereby obscuring the developmental specificity and distinct psychosocial needs of adolescents [12].”
Liu, V., Bähr, C., Emmett, M.-J., Ayhan, S., & Taylor, L. K. (2026) · Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.appdev.2026.101972
Cowling, M. M., Whelan, T. A., & Anderson, J. (2026) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-9955157/v1
Cowling, M. M., Whelan, T. A., & Anderson, J. (2026) · School Mental Health · doi:10.1007/s12310-026-09894-y
“For example, across studies utilizing samples of children from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds, high prevalence rates of various psychopathologies, including depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder, have been documented (Blackmore et al., 2020; Bronstein & Montgomery, 2011).”
Manríquez-Reyes, K., Fischersworring, M., Mera, R., Canales, A., Garib, N., Velasco-Hodgson, M. C., Aliste, M. D. L. Á., & Álamo, N. (2026) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-9945362/v1
Almazroui, K. M. (2026) · Education Sciences · doi:10.3390/educsci16081202
Ethical Considerations in Islāmic Psychotherapy with Vulnerable Clients
Rassool, G. H. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-26515-9_9
Meurs, P., Schäfer, D., Özkan, D., Kulić, I., Bär, C., & Marburger, J. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1721720
Bunn, M., Dilts, C., Sharifi, F., Jung, E., Sohail, R., & Betancourt, T. S. (2026) · Transcultural Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/13634615261452806
Reading ability in syrian refugee children from the perspective of the componential view of reading
Wang, S., Capani, A., Hipfner-Boucher, K., Al‐Janaideh, R., Paradis, J., Gottardo, A., & Chen, X. (2026) · Reading and Writing · doi:10.1007/s11145-026-10900-7
Olayo-Méndez, A., Bunn, M., & Betancourt, T. S. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197851364.003.0944
Untapped potential: Gifted and talented youth in the displacement context
Teja, Z., & Worrell, F. C. (2026) · Gifted and Talented International · doi:10.1080/15332276.2026.2749504
Metadata
- Authors
- Bronstein, I., & Montgomery, P.
- Affiliations
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Bronstein, Israel
- Venue
- Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review
- Published
- 2011-03
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 44-56
- ISSN
- 1096-4037 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-2827
- 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
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