The Social Network and Health of Refugees Recently Arrived in Germany

Daria Mendola , Università degli Studi di Palermo, Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement (SPPEFF)
Annalisa Busetta , University of Palermo
Micaela Arcaio , University of Palermo, Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement (SPPEFF)

Social networks are crucial for refugees resettled or arrived in the country of asylum. Having contacts with compatriots and native population, as well as having their own family aside affect positively health, social and economic integration. In our analysis of a nationally representative German household survey of individuals who entered the country between 2013 and 2016, we find a strong presence of bad self-reported health – especially psychological. This work analyses the relation among individual social network and three measures of health and finds that poor health is associated with the presence of familial ties. The results show that about 70% of respondents recently had problems psychological in nature, and that those with no familial ties had significantly higher chances of having experienced anxiety and depression in the last month. Children being away is also associated with higher chances of bad physical health in the last four weeks.

See extended abstract

 Presented in Session P1. Postercafe