Predictors of psychological distress among Afghan and Syrian refugee women in Houston, Texas.

Refugee mental health is shaped by a complex interplay of pre-migration trauma, migration-related hardship, and post-migration stressors. Afghan and Syrian refugees constitute two of the largest displaced populations resettled in the United States, yet their mental health needs remain understudied particularly among women, who may face layered vulnerabilities linked to their gender-based roles within the family. Houston, Texas, hosts sizeable communities of both groups, creating a unique context for examining culturally specific expressions of distress and the predictors of post-migration stress. This study compares mental health profile of Afghan and Syrian refugee women living in the Houston metropolitan area and identifies demographic and sociocultural factors associated with psychological distress. Mental health in both groups was assessed using two psychometrically validated measures: the Afghan Symptoms Checklist (ASC) and the Refugee Post-Migration Stress (RPMS) scale. Sociodemographic data was collected and included in a multiple linear regression model to identify predictors of psychological symptoms. Differences in psychological distress patterns were observed between Afghan and Syrian refugee women; however, these differences were not statistically significant in adjusted models. Perceived discrimination and social strain emerged as significant predictors of psychological distress across multiple models. These findings highlight the need for culturally tailored community-engaged mental health interventions that address both the universal challenges of resettlement and the unique cultural frameworks shaping psychological state among refugee women.