Loneliness and Social Isolation Amongst Refugees Resettled in High-Income Countries: A Systematic Review

What research reveals about prevalence, risk factors, and health consequences after resettlement

Expanded Overview

This systematic review brings together 69 studies on refugees who resettled in high-income countries. Although refugee experiences differ from voluntary corporate relocation, the article provides an important evidence base on what happens when people lose familiar relationships and must rebuild social life in a new cultural environment.

The reported prevalence of loneliness ranged from 15.9% to 47.7%, while social isolation ranged from 9.8% to 61.2%. These rates were generally higher than population norms. The wide ranges also show that outcomes depend on the host country, personal circumstances, measurement methods, and the availability of family and community support.

Family separation, acculturative stress, being a parent, being female, and existing mental-health difficulties were among the major risk factors. Many of the strongest risks emerged after migration rather than before it. This is important because post-arrival conditions—housing, language access, discrimination, employment, community connection, and family reunification—can potentially be changed.

Loneliness was associated with depression, post-traumatic stress, psychological distress, and physical health problems. The article distinguishes between being socially isolated and feeling lonely: a person may have frequent contact with others but still lack relationships that feel safe, reciprocal, and emotionally meaningful.

Only a small number of interventions directly targeting loneliness were identified. The authors call for social support to be integrated into resettlement and psychosocial programs. For relocation planning, the broader lesson is that connection must be designed intentionally. A job, home, and school do not automatically create belonging.

Practical Relevance for Relocation

• Assess emotional loneliness as well as the number of social contacts.
• Prioritize family connection, language access, and community participation early after arrival.
• View loneliness prevention as part of health and relocation support, not merely a social extra.

Source

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953624007949