The Nordic welfare model is often used as an example for the promotion of health and wellbeing, even in vulnerable groups of children, such as refugees. Nonetheless, there are no published reviews on resilience and/or risk and protective factors for physical and mental health among refugee children living in Nordic countries. In this systematic review, we identified 5181 studies on the topic, screened titles, and abstracts, viewed 632, and finally included 26 studies. These studies described 18 samples with a total of 34,080 individuals ranging in ages 0–18 years. Overall, the studies were of good quality. Nearly all studies assessed adversity. Six studies reported physical health outcomes and all studies mental health outcomes, most often post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. None explicitly studied resilience. While we found that age and sex are the most frequently studied  risk- and protective factors, findings are inconclusive, since the direction of the associations was different in the different studies. This systematic review indicates that there is still a need for well-designed and -powered studies using clear definitions of key study concepts to examine health outcomes and resilience among refugee children in Nordic countries.

Studies on experiences of migration in childhood and subsequent health in adulthood report conflicting results. While there is limited research on the long-term health outcomes of refugee children as they transition into adulthood, it is often observed that refugee children experience adverse health conditions upon their arrival in the host country. We examined whether adults with a childhood refugee experience were more likely to have poorer mental health, general health, and risk-behaviours compared to non-refugee migrants and Swedish-born peers We included a nationally representative sample of 18-64-year-olds who answered the Swedish National Public Health survey in 2018 or 2020. Using official register data, we categorized individuals as: 1) refugees in childhood (<age 18 years); 2) migrants in childhood; or 3) Swedish-born. Associations between childhood status (refugee, migrant, or Swedish-born) and all outcomes in adulthood were analyzed using logistic regression. The final model was adjusted for age, sexual- and gender-minority (SGM) identity, and stratified by sex. We also analysed the above and all outcomes stratified by age (18–25, 26–64), adjusted for sex and SGM-identity. We found that a childhood refugee experience was not associated with worse self-rated general or mental health, or more risk behaviours in adulthood, compared to non-refugee migrants or Swedish-born individuals. Additionally, adults with a childhood refugee experience had lower odds of at-risk alcohol use and substance use than Swedish-born peers. In general, a childhood refugee experience was not associated with worse self-rated health or risk behaviours in adulthood when considering age and sexual- and gender-minority status.

Background To examine health and health-related behaviors in migrant and refugee individuals who identify as sexual or gender minority, and in comparison to their heterosexual peers. Methods The study included 168,952 individuals (aged 16-84 years, males: 45.9%, sexual or gender minorities: 3.1%) who answered the Swedish National Public Health Survey in 2018 and 2020. Participants were grouped into Swedish-and Western-born (White) heterosexual, White sexual- or gender minority, migrant heterosexual, migrant sexual- or gender minority, refugee heterosexual, and refugee sexual- or gender minority. Outcomes included mental health (for example suicidal ideation, wellbeing), general health, risky behaviors (risk alcohol use, risk gambling, and substance use), and experiences of violence. Associations between 1) sexual- or gender -ethnic identities and 2) gender-ethnic identities and all outcomes were analyzed using logistic and linear regression adjusting for sex, age, and educational level. Findings Being a sexual- or gender minority, regardless of ethnic minority status, was associated with worse general health and mental ill-health compared to heterosexual peers including suicidal ideation in refugee sexual- or gender minority individuals (OR 2.42, 95 % CI 1.44-4.08). Ethnic minorities (heterosexual and sexual- or gender minority migrants and refugees) had lower odds of drug and risk alcohol use compared to White heterosexual peers but higher odds of risk gambling (1.88, 1.49-2.37 for refugee heterosexuals). Transgender refugees had high odds for risk gambling (8.62, 1.94-38.40) and exposure to physical violence (7.46, 2.97-18.70). Interpretation In this national population-based study, sexual and gender minority individuals have worse mental and general health regardless of ethnic minority status. We did not find evidence for worse health in sexual- or gender minority refugees in comparison to migrant, and White sexual- or gender minorities and their heterosexual peers. Transgender individuals (White and ethnic minority) experienced significantly higher levels of physical violence. Public health policy should emphasize preventive measures to reduce exposure to violence and discrimination in sexual- and gender minority individuals, increase access and use of mental healthcare services and sensitise healthcare professionals about higher rates of health and related issues faced by sexual- and gender minority individuals including those with multiple minority identities.

Children with refugee backgrounds are often exposed to violence and other adverse experiences with well-known detrimental consequences on mental health. However, the current group of approximately 40 million child refugees is heterogeneous, stressing the importance of first-person perspectives in understanding children's unique experiences and needs related to the migration process. Identifying contextual factors promoting health and resilience is also essential. For instance, the roles children play as active agents in constructing their own lives and adapting to different environments are poorly described in contemporary research on child refugees and their mental health. To address these knowledge gaps, we conducted qualitative interviews with a reflexive thematic analysis with eighteen children with refugee backgrounds in Sweden. This resulted in two main themes: Longing for a good life that cannot be taken for granted and Challenged agency and changing rights. The narratives indicate that children, although exposed to different challenges in different migration phases and based on gender and asylum status, have experiences of ordinary childhood with a desire for a good life with prospects. The results also show that children execute active and adaptable agency that is impacted by various factors. Reaching the full age appears to be a confusing and ambivalent transition due to changes in rights. The results pinpoint several possibilities to address factors that pose a risk to health and restrictions of rights among child refugees.