What makes people seeking asylum and refugees well? A qualitative scoping review using an asset-based approach

AIM: People seeking asylum and with refugee status (ASR) often face worse health outcomes compared to host populations. Despite this, ASR are underserved in healthcare and research, resulting in a knowledge gap about what promotes their health and resilience. The aim of this review is to define what ASR communities express makes them well despite adversity by looking at the assets of individuals and communities identified in community-based research. METHOD: A scoping review of peer-reviewed papers and grey literature documenting patient-centred holistic health, wellbeing and social outcomes in community-based research with ASR. RESULTS: In total, 24 papers met the inclusion criteria. Wellbeing was primarily defined by safety, empowerment and a sense of purpose. Three things matter most for wellbeing: gaining knowledge and skills (like language and education), having meaningful things to do (like work or volunteering) and access to connections you care deeply about (like family, culture and faith). CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that wellbeing for ASR is multifaceted, encompassing psychological, social and cultural dimensions. Asset-based approaches support holistic wellbeing in underserved populations by shifting the focus from identifying problems and deficits to recognising and building upon strengths, capabilities and existing resources. Although there are challenges in measurement, qualitative and participatory research approaches are proving effective in capturing the complex needs and outcomes for this population.