Using a Community-Based Participatory Research Approach to Study the Mental Health of Older Adults with a Refugee Life Experience

Rochelle L. Frounfelker (), Puja Thapa and Tej Mishra
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Rochelle L. Frounfelker: Department of Population Health, College of Health, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
Puja Thapa: Department of Population Health, College of Health, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
Tej Mishra: Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg, Harrisburg, PA 17112, USA

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 8, 1-16

Abstract: Older adults with a refugee life experience have a disproportionate burden of mental health problems compared to non-refugee aging populations. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is a promising approach to identify the challenges and strengths of older refugee adults and identify solutions to mental health disparities. We present a case study of one such CBPR program of research with older ethnic Nepali Bhutanese adults resettled in North America, Project Bhalakushari. We highlight the many opportunities to integrate older adults and members of the broader Bhutanese community in activities throughout the research process, starting with forming academic–community partnerships, identifying the needs and strengths of the community, conducting research, and sharing study findings with a broad audience of community members, health practitioners, policy-makers, and academics. Our case study emphasizes that a successful, culturally informed partnership should consider the involvement of the entire community, regardless of age, in the initiative to secure buy-in and support and maximize the positive impact of the work. We identify concrete strategies to overcome challenges specific to conducting research, with a focus on recruitment, outreach, and data collection.

Keywords: CBPR; older adults; mental health; Bhutanese; refugees; migrants (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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