Mental health trajectories and family functioning among Syrian refugees in Switzerland: A five-year longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVES

: Longitudinal evidence on mental health among refugee families across migration policy contexts remains limited. This exploratory longitudinal study describes probable psychiatric disorder prevalence, mental health-related quality of life (MHQoL), and family functioning among Syrian forced migrant families in Switzerland, comparing trajectories between families admitted through the Swiss Resettlement Program (SRP) and those entering through the standard asylum process (non-SRP).

METHODS

The study followed 115 participants from 34 Syrian families between 2019 and 2023. Participants completed repeated assessments of probable psychiatric disorders and MHQoL, including the SF-12 Mental Component Summary (SF-12 MCS). Family function-ing was assessed with the Family Assessment Device. Hierarchical linear models were used as secondary exploratory analyses to examine changes over time by migration pathway and family role while accounting for repeated observations within families.

RESULTS

Adults showed a higher prevalence of probable psychiatric disorders than children. Hierarchical linear models suggested that MHQoL trajectories differed by migration pathway over time, although these findings were attenuated in sensitivity analyses. Family functioning was not independently associated with MHQoL trajectories after adjustment. Mothers consistently reported lower SF-12 MCS scores than children across all adjusted models and sensitivity analyses, whereas fathers also reported lower scores, although to a lesser extent.

CONCLUSION

Mental health patterns among Syrian forced migrant families were dynamic and heterogeneous. Differences in MHQoL trajectories by migration pathway and consistently lower MHQoL among mothers highlight the need for sustained, culturally responsive family-centered support. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings and clarify underlying mechanisms.