General health and psychological distress among adolescents in six European countries

Abstract Due to forced population movements from southeastern Europe to the neighboring countries, for many refugees or displaced persons there have been problems in various domains of life, including health problems. The aim of this study is to focus on the general health and psychological stress of youths and to investigate the elements producing the health problems linked to the mental and psychological disorders of youths in six countries. The target population is composed of adolescents who were between 15 and 18 years of age in 2003 and who immigrated into a new country between 1990 and 2000. From this analysis, a profile emerges of an adolescent who, independently of immigrant or native status, reveals an unexpected fragility. This is manifested through a nonoptimal perception of his/her state of health that is not confirmed by recognized pathologies. This discrepancy between perceived and objective state of health is a psychological state that is produced by a wide variety of factors, and results in reduced selfesteem and dissatisfaction with life. It is manifested in a difficulty in accepting one’s selfimage. This produces the difficulty the youths experience in accepting a self-image that has been deformed by reality, with consequent pathologies involving the alimentary disorders which have become a phenomenon of the new forms of society