Menores refugiadospsicopatología y factores relacionados

Abstract

In the recent years, the refugee population has increased, being more than half of them minors. Refugee minors, given their vulnerability, are more exposed to risk, presenting an even greater risk in unaccompanied minors.The incidence of exposure to stressful or traumatic events that these children experience, leads to an increase in the levels of psychological problems, emotional and behavioral, leading to various mental health disorders, with a higher prevalence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review of studies that assess the psychological state of the refugee minors and the different factors affecting it. The review includes a total of 14 studies published between 2009 and 2016.The results confirm the highest mental health disorders rates and psychopathological symptoms, placing, for example, the total prevalence of PTSD between 17% y 52%. Several factors might influence the variability of the psychopathological symptoms: sociodemographic variables; pre-migration traumatic experiences; post-migration stress factors and other psychological factors, such as posttraumatic growth. Seems appropriate, in future research, to work on improving some parameters, both theoretical and methodological concepts (e.g., further longitudinal studies), to allow a greater generalisation of the results and clinical implications.