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Bernhardt K, Le Beherec S, Uppendahl JR, Fleischmann M, Klosinski M, Rivera LM, Samaras G, Kenney M, Müller R, Nehring I, Mall V, Hahnefeld A. Young children's development after forced displacement: a systematic review. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2024; 18:20. [PMID: 38303022 PMCID: PMC10835848 DOI: 10.1186/s13034-024-00711-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine the impact of displacement experiences on 0- to 6-year-old children's social-emotional and cognitive development, as well as influencing factors on reported outcomes. STUDY DESIGN We systematically searched MEDline, Psyndex, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Elsevier, TandF, Oxford Journal of Refugee Studies, Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies, and Canada's Journal on Refugees for existing literature regarding social-emotional and cognitive outcomes in children directly exposed to forced displacement due to political violence. Results were synthesized in the discussion and displayed using harvest plots. RESULTS Our search generated 9,791 articles of which 32 were selected for review and evaluation according to NICE criteria. Included studies provided results for 6,878 forcibly displaced children. Measured outcomes were diverse and included areas such as peer relations, prosocial behavior, family functioning, play, intelligence, learning performance, and language development. Repeated exposure to adverse experiences, separation from parents, parental distress, as well as duration and quality of resettlement in the host country were reported as influencing factors in the reviewed studies. CONCLUSION As protective factors like secure and stable living conditions help to promote children's development, we call for policies that enhance participation in the welcoming society for refugee families. Early integration with low-threshold access to health and educational facilities can help to mitigate the wide-ranging negative consequences of forced displacement on young children's development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Bernhardt
- Chair of Social Pediatrics, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
| | - Saskia Le Beherec
- Chair of Social Pediatrics, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Kbo Kinderzentrum, Heiglhofstrasse 65, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Jana R Uppendahl
- Chair of Social Pediatrics, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Melia Fleischmann
- Chair of Social Pediatrics, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Klosinski
- Chair of Social Pediatrics, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Luisa M Rivera
- Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Georgia Samaras
- Department of Science, Technology and Society, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Martha Kenney
- Department of Women and Gender Studies, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ruth Müller
- Department of Science, Technology and Society, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- School of Management, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ina Nehring
- Chair of Social Pediatrics, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Volker Mall
- Chair of Social Pediatrics, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Kbo Kinderzentrum, Heiglhofstrasse 65, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Andrea Hahnefeld
- Chair of Social Pediatrics, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Kbo Kinderzentrum, Heiglhofstrasse 65, 81377, Munich, Germany
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Bernhardt K, Le Beherec S, Uppendahl J, Baur MA, Klosinski M, Mall V, Hahnefeld A. Exploring Mental Health and Development in Refugee Children Through Systematic Play Assessment. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2023:10.1007/s10578-023-01584-z. [PMID: 37624478 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-023-01584-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
To evaluate a standardized play observation as a measure of young children's mental health and development in a clinical and refugee population. We conducted individual play observations with 70 refugee children aged 3- to 6-years and compared them to a clinical group of 111 age-matched children regarding their level of play development, social interaction during play, traumatic re-enactments, and emotionless-cold play. Additionally, we assessed children's mental health, social-emotional development and markers of adversity by parent and educator report as well as their IQ-test scores and learning performance and related these factors to the play variables. Play variables were significantly correlated with IQ-test scores (r = 0.184, p = 0.037), learning performance (r = 0.208, p = 0.010) and vocabulary (r = 0.208, p = 0.021) in the comparison group and with social-emotional development in educator report (r = 0.368, p = 0.011), time spent in Germany (r = 0.342, p < 0.001) and parental distress (r = - 0.292, p = 0.034) in the refugee group. Children with more parent-reported adverse experiences showed less social-interactive play in the overall sample (r = - 0.178, p = 0.011). Our child-centered approach to standardized play observation augments information obtained from parent and educator reports and can provide valuable insights in subgroups where other commonly used tests are not available or applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Saskia Le Beherec
- Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- kbo Kinderzentrum, Munich, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Volker Mall
- Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- kbo Kinderzentrum, Munich, Germany
| | - Andrea Hahnefeld
- Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- kbo Kinderzentrum, Munich, Germany
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Hahnefeld A, Münch K, Aberl S, Henningsen P, Mall V. Versorgung traumatisierter Vorschulkinder. Monatsschr Kinderheilkd 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00112-022-01618-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Bürgin D, Anagnostopoulos D, Vitiello B, Sukale T, Schmid M, Fegert JM. Impact of war and forced displacement on children's mental health-multilevel, needs-oriented, and trauma-informed approaches. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2022; 31:845-853. [PMID: 35286450 PMCID: PMC9209349 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-022-01974-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The infliction of war and military aggression upon children must be considered a violation of their basic human rights and can have a persistent impact on their physical and mental health and well-being, with long-term consequences for their development. Given the recent events in Ukraine with millions on the flight, this scoping policy editorial aims to help guide mental health support for young victims of war through an overview of the direct and indirect burden of war on child mental health. We highlight multilevel, need-oriented, and trauma-informed approaches to regaining and sustaining outer and inner security after exposure to the trauma of war. The impact of war on children is tremendous and pervasive, with multiple implications, including immediate stress-responses, increased risk for specific mental disorders, distress from forced separation from parents, and fear for personal and family's safety. Thus, the experiences that children have to endure during and as consequence of war are in harsh contrast to their developmental needs and their right to grow up in a physically and emotionally safe and predictable environment. Mental health and psychosocial interventions for war-affected children should be multileveled, specifically targeted towards the child's needs, trauma-informed, and strength- and resilience-oriented. Immediate supportive interventions should focus on providing basic physical and emotional resources and care to children to help them regain both external safety and inner security. Screening and assessment of the child's mental health burden and resources are indicated to inform targeted interventions. A growing body of research demonstrates the efficacy and effectiveness of evidence-based interventions, from lower-threshold and short-term group-based interventions to individualized evidence-based psychotherapy. Obviously, supporting children also entails enabling and supporting parents in the care for their children, as well as providing post-migration infrastructures and social environments that foster mental health. Health systems in Europe should undertake a concerted effort to meet the increased mental health needs of refugee children directly exposed and traumatized by the recent war in Ukraine as well as to those indirectly affected by these events. The current crisis necessitates political action and collective engagement, together with guidelines by mental health professionals on how to reduce harm in children either directly or indirectly exposed to war and its consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Bürgin
- grid.410712.10000 0004 0473 882XDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University Hospital Ulm, University of Ulm, Steinhövelstrasse 5, 89073 Ulm, Germany ,grid.6612.30000 0004 1937 0642Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Research Department, Psychiatric University Hospitals, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Benedetto Vitiello
- grid.7605.40000 0001 2336 6580Division of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, Regina Margherita Pediatric Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Thorsten Sukale
- grid.410712.10000 0004 0473 882XDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University Hospital Ulm, University of Ulm, Steinhövelstrasse 5, 89073 Ulm, Germany
| | - Marc Schmid
- grid.6612.30000 0004 1937 0642Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Research Department, Psychiatric University Hospitals, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jörg M. Fegert
- grid.410712.10000 0004 0473 882XDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University Hospital Ulm, University of Ulm, Steinhövelstrasse 5, 89073 Ulm, Germany
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Hahnefeld A, Sukale T, Weigand E, Dudek V, Münch K, Aberl S, Eckler LV, Nehring I, Friedmann A, Plener PL, Fegert JM, Mall V. Non-verbal cognitive development, learning, and symptoms of PTSD in 3- to 6-year-old refugee children. Eur J Pediatr 2022; 181:1205-1212. [PMID: 34817673 PMCID: PMC8897318 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-021-04312-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
As IQ tests are commonly used as key assessment method, we address the question whether our commonly used standardized IQ tests are appropriate for children from families of diverse cultures and different educational levels in a refugee population. We examined 109 refugee children aged 3-7 years (M = 5.10 years, SD = 1.25) with the "Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children " (KABC-II; Kaufmann & Kaufmann, 2015) on a language-free scale (Scale of Intellectual Functioning, SIF) and learning performance (subtest Atlantis). With a non-verbal IQ of 81.5 (SD = 18.01), the population mean of the refugee children is more than one standard deviation lower than the mean of the German norm population. Standardized scores follow the normal distribution and are not correlated to any of the assessed markers of adversity (flight duration, time spent in Germany, child PTSD in parent rating, parental symptom load, and parental education level).Conclusion: The interpretation of IQ test results for refugee children should be done cautiously as results may underestimate their cognitive capacity. Environmental factors, such as high illiteracy among parents in this study, the lack of institutional education of children and high lifetime stress, may explain our findings.Trial registration: DRKS00021150. What is Known: • There is a high pervasiveness for the use of standardized IQ tests in the German health and education system to determine eligibility for special education and social services. What is New: • Refugee children score significantly lower than German children in a language-free IQ test. As results are normally distributed and not correlated to any of the assessed markers of adversity, the low scores in the refugee group might be due to missing formal education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Hahnefeld
- Chair of Social Pediatrics, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
- kbo Kinderzentrum, Heiglhofstrasse 65, 81377, Munich, Germany.
| | - Thorsten Sukale
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Elena Weigand
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Verena Dudek
- Chair of Social Pediatrics, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Katharina Münch
- Chair of Social Pediatrics, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- kbo Kinderzentrum, Heiglhofstrasse 65, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Sigrid Aberl
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychosomatic Medicine, Munich Municipal Hospital Group, Munich, Germany
| | - Lea V Eckler
- Chair of Social Pediatrics, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ina Nehring
- Chair of Social Pediatrics, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Anna Friedmann
- Chair of Social Pediatrics, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Paul L Plener
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jörg M Fegert
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Volker Mall
- Chair of Social Pediatrics, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- kbo Kinderzentrum, Heiglhofstrasse 65, 81377, Munich, Germany
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