Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41943952›Full record

ArticleEpidemiology and psychiatric sciences2026

Mental health disparities by sex: unravelling determinants and changes in the refugee resettlement process over a decade.

Xinyan Bu, Meng Zheng, Andre M N Renzaho, Thomas P Nguyen, Shameran Slewa-Younan, Shiyu Feng, Xuezhi Liang, Wen Chen

Abstract read
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Article in Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Xinyan BuDepartment of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9418-7092
Meng ZhengDepartment of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7705-7553
Andre M N RenzahoMental Health, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Thomas P NguyenMental Health, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Shameran Slewa-YounanMental Health, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Shiyu FengDepartment of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Xuezhi LiangDepartment of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Wen ChenDepartment of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6839-8890

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsSignificant sex disparities in mental health have been observed amongst resettled refugees, yet how these disparities and their determinants evolve over time remains unclear. This study sought to quantitatively unravel determinants and changes in mental health disparities by sex.

methodsData were drawn from Waves 1 (2013-2014), 5 (2017-2018) and 6 (2023) of the 10-year

resultsA total of 2261 refugees were included at Wave 1, with 1833 (81.1%) and 905 (40.0%) followed up at Waves 5 and 6. Female refugees consistently experienced poor mental health, with the total predicted probability difference decreasing from the initial (Wave 1, 8.3%) to middle stage (Wave 5, 4.6%), then increasing in the long term (Wave 6, 6.3%). Determinants of disparities varied across waves, but poor status of physical health was a persistent contributor of disparities in PTSD (contribution proportion: 57.2%, 71.5% and 63.0% at each wave). Family conflict contributed at the initial (HR-SMI: 4.5%) and long-term stages (PTSD: 8.7%), while financial hardships (PTSD: 13.2%; HR-SMI: 23.2%), marital status (HR-SMI: 24.8%) and family concerns (PTSD: 8.0%) were key determinants at the middle stage. Unmet support or help during COVID-19 was a major contributor at Wave 6 (PTSD: 22.7%; HR-SMI: 8.0%).

conclusionsSex disparities exist in refugees' mental health and require sustained attention and tailored strategies. To promote mental health equity, there is a long-term need to provide essential physical healthcare and financial assistance and address family-related stressors. Additionally, it is important to identify and address the specific psychosocial needs of women in times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Indexed as

Health Status DisparitiesMental DisordersMental HealthRefugeesStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticAdultAustraliaFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSex FactorsSocioeconomic Disparities in HealthSocioeconomic Factorsevidence-based psychiatryFairlie decompositiongender differencesmental healthPTSDrefugees

Identifiers

PMID41943952
PMCPMC13122539

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.