What does this research mean for the field?

Among unaccompanied minor migrants in Spain, childhood abuse, perceived discrimination, and longer residence duration are significant risk factors for adverse mental health outcomes, while resilience and met migration expectations serve as protective factors. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To identify risk and protective factors associated with psychological distress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD among unaccompanied minor migrants in Spain.

September 14, 2026European Child & Adolescent PsychiatryOpen Access

Risk and protective factors for psychological distress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD in unaccompanied minor migrants in Spain

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Authors

MFMarta Franch-RocaParc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu RHRachid El Hafi-ElmokhtariParc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu IGIago Giné-VázquezInstituto de Salud Carlos III

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Implication

Cross-sectional study identifies migration-related mental health determinants in unaccompanied minor migrants, highlighting targets for tailored support.

Key Points

To identify risk and protective factors associated with psychological distress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD among unaccompanied minor migrants in Spain.
Cross-sectional survey of 230 male unaccompanied minor migrants (mean age = 16.79, SD = 0.45) in Spain.
Data gathered via culturally adapted structured interviews using standardized screening tools (K10, GAD-7, CIDI, and PCL-5).
Multivariable Tobit and logistic regression models were used to evaluate contextual risk and protective factors.
Depressive symptoms were reported by 21.3% of participants, with mean scores of 4.75 (SD 3.60) for psychological distress, 1.92 (SD 2.01) for anxiety, and 3.51 (SD 2.70) for PTSD.
Significant risk factors included childhood abuse and perceived discrimination (both associated with elevated distress and anxiety), origin outside Morocco (linked to higher anxiety and distress), and longer residence in Spain (associated with higher distress, anxiety, and depression).
Protective factors included higher resilience (associated with reduced distress) and fulfilled migration expectations (associated with reduced anxiety and PTSD), while neglect experiences were paradoxically linked to lower anxiety.

Cite This Study

Franch-Roca et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa7b3770926e14a848b26fa https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-026-03143-y

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Implication

Cross-sectional study identifies migration-related mental health determinants in unaccompanied minor migrants, highlighting targets for tailored support.

Risk and protective factors for psychological distress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD in unaccompanied minor migrants in Spain

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Risk and protective factors for psychological distress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD in unaccompanied minor migrants in Spain

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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