A System Model of Post-Migration Risk Factors Affecting the Mental Health of Unaccompanied Minor Refugees in Austria—A Multi-Step Modeling Process Involving Expert Knowledge from Science and Practice

Nicole Hynek, Arleta Franczukowska, Lydia Rössl, Günther Schreder, Anna Faustmann, Eva Krczal, Isabella Skrivanek, Isolde Sommer and Lukas Zenk
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Nicole Hynek: Department for Knowledge and Communication Management, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria
Arleta Franczukowska: Department for Economics and Health, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria
Lydia Rössl: Department for Migration and Globalisation, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria
Günther Schreder: Department for Knowledge and Communication Management, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria
Anna Faustmann: Department for Migration and Globalisation, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria
Eva Krczal: Department for Economics and Health, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria
Isabella Skrivanek: Department for Migration and Globalisation, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria
Isolde Sommer: Department for Evidence-Based Medicine und Evaluation, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria
Lukas Zenk: Department for Knowledge and Communication Management, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-17

Abstract: Various studies have indicated that unaccompanied minor refugees (UMRs) have a higher risk of suffering from mental health problems than do accompanied minor refugees and general population norm. However, only a few studies provide data on UMRs regarding post-migration risk factors, their interrelations, and their influence on mental health. In this study, system models of post-migration risk factors for mental health and their interactions were developed in the case of Austria. In three consecutive interactive workshops with scientists and practitioners, fuzzy-logic cognitive mapping techniques were used to integrate the experts’ knowledge. The resulting final system model consists of 11 risk factors (e.g., social contacts in the host country, housing situation, or professional health care services). The model provides a deeper insight into the complexity of interrelated direct, indirect, and reciprocal relations, as well as self-reinforcing triads. This systemic approach provides a sound basis for further investigations, taking into account the inherent complex multifactorial dependencies in this topic.

Keywords: system models; expert knowledge; fuzzy-logic cognitive mapping; unaccompanied minor refugees; mental health; post-migration risk factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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