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Association between uncertainty regarding right-to-stay and mental health in unaccompanied and separated migrant children (UASC) reaching adulthood: findings from France

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Abstract

Purpose

There is substantial evidence suggesting high levels of mental health problems in unaccompanied and separated children (UASC). However, there is less focus on the first years of adulthood characterised by increased vulnerability and fear of expulsion. We aimed to describe the mental health of UASC on reaching adulthood, and how this was affected by uncertainty regarding their right-to-stay in France.

Methods

One hundred and ten youth aged 18–22 were recruited via child protection reception centres. We administered the Patient Health Questionnaire somatic (PHQ-15), anxiety (GAD-7) and depression (PHQ-9) modules, the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5) and Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10). Logistic regression analysis was performed with the dependent variable, a secure (versus uncertain) situation, defined as (1) detaining a residence permit and being in school, an apprenticeship or a salaried job, or (2) waiting for residence permit whilst occupying a salaried job.

Results

Of the sample, 19.3% reached criteria for a probable somatic disorder, 17.6% for anxiety and 28.7% for depression (score  ≥ 10); 41.8% were in an uncertain situation regarding their right-to-stay. Uncertainty was associated with higher anxiety ((OR per Interquartile range (95% CI), 1.77 (1.05–2.98)) and post-traumatic stress symptoms (2.05 (1.06–4.00)), lower resilience (0.50 (0.27–0.91)), and participants rating their anxiety (p = 0.02) and depressive symptoms (p = 0.003) as more severe since reaching adulthood.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest uncertainty regarding right-to-stay is associated with increased mental health symptoms, specifically anxiety and trauma-induced stress, thereby highlighting the vulnerability of UASC in their first years of adulthood. This calls for greater support during this transition period with regular symptom monitoring for timely psychological interventions.

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Data availability

The dataset reported in the current article is not publicly available. Availability on request by qualified scientifists will be considered. All data were anonymised in accordance with the ethics guidelines.

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Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to the staff of the child protection services and child reception centres who helped us recruit the participants. We thank the participants for their time given to the study.

Funding

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INM, University of Montpellier, INSERM, 80 rue Auguste Fliche, 34000, Montpellier, France

    Joanna Norton, Catherine Gandubert & Isabelle Chaudieu

  2. LIP/PC2S, University Savoie Mont-Blanc, University Grenoble Alpes, Chambery, France

    Sonia Pellissier & Sydney Gaultier

  3. Service of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Sydney Gaultier

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  2. Catherine Gandubert
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Contributions

SG designed the study. JN and CG provided methodological expertise. CG coordinated data collection in two of the study centres and managed the data. JN analysed the data and drafted the manuscript. SP and IC provided scientific expertise on trauma, stress and resilience. All the authors interpreted the data, participated in the critical revision of the manuscript and approved the final version.

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Correspondence to Joanna Norton.

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Norton, J., Gandubert, C., Chaudieu, I. et al. Association between uncertainty regarding right-to-stay and mental health in unaccompanied and separated migrant children (UASC) reaching adulthood: findings from France. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 58, 939–948 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-023-02442-y

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