Does the separation from marital partners of Syrian refugees with a residence permit in Germany have an impact on their quality of life?

• Published in: Journal of psychosomatic research 2020-03, Vol.130, p.109936-109936, Article 109936
• Main Authors: Georgiadou, Ekaterini, Schmitt, Gregor Martin, Erim, Yesim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Family reunification; Family separation; Gender; Germany; Life stress; Long term; Long-term effects; Mental depression; Mental health; Perceived social support; Political asylum; Protective factors; Quality of life; Refugees; Residence; Sense of coherence; Social interactions; Symptoms; Syrian refugees
• ISSN: 0022-3999; 1879-1360
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2020.109936

Around 700,000 Syrian refugees live in Germany, most of them having come alone since 2015 as asylum seekers and waiting in Germany for family reunification. This study focused on separation from marital partner and its impact on quality of life among Syrian refugees with a residence permit. For the present investigation, we included only married participants of a larger registry-based study. Therefore, we analyzed 119 participants; 93 of them were married, and their partner accompanied them in Germany at the time of the investigation (partner+), while a further 26 were married but separated from their partner (partner-). The respondents were investigated for mental stress, quality of life and protective factors. The partner- group reported significantly lower quality of life in the domains of psychological and social health in comparison to the partner+ group. Higher general quality of life was associated with higher social support, higher sense of coherence and fewer symptoms of depression. Predictors for a higher quality of life were male gender, fewer symptoms of depression, a higher sense of coherence, higher perceived social support and living together with the marital partner. Family separation of Syrian refugees with a residence permit in Germany can have an impact on their quality of life. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm our results and determine the long-term effects of family separation. •Refugees separated from their marriage partners reported a lower quality of life in the domain social relationships.•Refugees separated from their marriage partners reported a lower quality of life in the domain psychological health.•Separation from the marital partner is a predictor for lower psychological quality of life.