Link between housing and community factors and mental health and psychological well-being of refugee parents and children in high-income countries: A systematic review

Clinical Snapshot

Key Findings

• P Value: Not reported

• Effect Size: Not quantified in abstract

• Primary Outcome: Mental health and psychological well-being outcomes in refugee populations

• Nnt Or Sensitivity: Qualitative findings: family-based housing arrangements consistently superior to reception centres for mental health outcomes

• Confidence Interval: Not reported

Clinical Application

High feasibility - recommendations align with existing Australian refugee settlement programs and community support frameworks Highly relevant to Australian refugee policy, particularly for Department of Home Affairs settlement services and state-based refugee support programs. Supports existing community sponsorship models and family reunion policies. Refugee families and children in Australia, particularly those in temporary accommodation or reception centres

Abstract

Whilst forced migration is known to significantly increase the risk of mental health problems, the influence of post-migration factors for refugee children and parents in high-income countries remains understudied. However, systemic post-migration factors have the potential to be modified by policy and practice to improve outcomes. This systematic review identifies the housing and community factors examined in research and their link to the mental health and psychological well-being of refugee parents and children in high-income countries. Adhering to the PRISMA guidelines, we searched the databases of PubMed, PsycINFO and Embase for studies published in peer-reviewed journals until the 17th of October 2025. Of the 11,588 studies identified, 30 were eligible for inclusion in this review. Our findings particularly suggest favourable mental health outcomes among those living with their families/relatives or foster care as opposed to reception centres, as well as those with social support. Perceived discrimination consistently showed an association with negative mental health outcomes. The findings suggest a gap in the evidence base focusing on parents, education and school-related factors. We recommend that policy makers provide family-based living arrangements and improve access to spaces for social support. Future research in this field will benefit from further sub-group analyses.

References

1. 1.Tamming, T., Hume, I., Said, G., & Albert, I. (2026). Link between housing and community factors and mental health and psychological well-being of refugee parents and children in high-income countries: A systematic review. Global Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2026.2649068