Afghan refugee population in Austria: exploring mental health service utilization and attitudes toward seeking psychological help
- Autor(en)
- Pouya Andisha, Brigitte Lueger-Schuster
- Abstrakt
The mental health of asylum seekers and refugees, particularly those from Afghanistan, is a critical concern due to their high exposure to violence, trauma, and displacement-related stressors. Despite the significant prevalence of mental health problems, Afghan refugee populations exhibit low help-seeking behaviors and resistance to professional psychological support. This study examines the mental health status and psychological help-seeking behaviors of Afghan asylum seekers and refugees in Austria, focusing on how sociodemographic and sociocultural factors influence attitudes toward seeking psychological help. Data were collected from 305 Afghan participants (155 asylum seekers and 150 refugees) using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 for anxiety and depression, the International Trauma Questionnaire for ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD, and the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale-Short Form. Results indicated high prevalence rates of anxiety (52.8%), depression (57.7%), ICD-11 PTSD (10.5%), and CPTSD (20.7%). Nearly half of those with mental health symptoms had never sought professional help, highlighting significant underutilization of services. Participants who came directly from Afghanistan exhibited significantly more negative attitudes toward seeking psychological help compared to those from Iran or Pakistan. Young adults and individuals who had never received mental health services also displayed more negative attitudes. Multiple linear regression analysis identified not having received mental health services, arriving directly from Afghanistan, and being a young adult as significant factors associated with negative attitudes toward seeking psychological help. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions, culturally sensitive approaches, and educational efforts to improve mental health service utilization among Afghan refugee populations in Austria.
- Organisation(en)
- Institut für Klinische und Gesundheitspsychologie
- Journal
- International Journal of Mental Health
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1080/00207411.2024.2444464
- Publikationsdatum
- 12-2024
- Peer-reviewed
- Ja
- ÖFOS 2012
- 501010 Klinische Psychologie
- Schlagwörter
- ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Psychiatry and Mental health, Health policy
- Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 3 – Gesundheit und Wohlergehen, SDG 16 – Frieden, Gerechtigkeit und starke Institutionen
- Link zum Portal
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/32d53fe5-65af-42d8-85a9-4574cf493c4b