Refugee-Led Organizations and Integration Outcomes among Burmese Refugees in Malaysia: Evidence on Social Cohesion, Aspirations, and Psychosocial Well-Being

In Malaysia's restrictive protection environment, Burmese refugees face severely constrained access to formal healthcare, education, and livelihood opportunities, increasing reliance on refugee-led organizations (RLOs) for community-based support. This cross-sectional survey (N = 103) examined whether RLO service receipt is associated with social cohesion, long-term aspirations, and psychosocial well-being; identified which service categories best predict social cohesion; and assessed whether family presence is associated with integration-relevant outcomes; supplementary analysis also explored whether outcomes varied by length of stay. RLO services received were positively associated with social cohesion (r = .62, p < .001), long-term aspirations (r = .55, p < .001), and psychosocial well-being (r = .60, p < .001). A service-specific regression model was statistically significant, F(6, 96) = 18.59, p < .001, explaining substantial variance in social cohesion (R² = .54, adjusted R² = .51), with health/medical assistance emerging as the strongest positive predictor (B = .40, p = .001), followed by skills training (B = .24, p = .004) and mental health support (B = .23, p = .020). Notably, guidance related to UNHCR processes was negatively associated with social cohesion (B = −.34, p < .001), suggesting that individuals accessing administrative services may represent a subgroup experiencing heightened precarity. Family presence was significantly associated with higher long-term aspirations (p = .01) and psychosocial well-being (p = .02). Supplementary analysis revealed that refugees residing in Malaysia for 2–5 years reported lower aspirations and psychosocial well-being than recently arrived refugees, indicating a mid-term vulnerability phase in protracted displacement. These findings indicate that RLO service receipt is closely associated with integration-relevant outcomes including future orientation and psychosocial functioning in a legally constrained context, highlighting the importance of community-led health, psychosocial, and skills-based programming, particularly for refugees in the mid-term phase of displacement.