Mid Sweden University

Background Previous qualitative research suggests that the biopsychosocial explanatory models of mental illness are not always supported in non-Western cultures. This underscores the importance of exploring explanatory models of mental distress among hard-to-reach groups, such as refugees. The main objective of the current study was to explore what Arabic-speaking refugee youth and young adults conceptualize as their mental distress and if they experience lower functioning or if their mental distress relates to unmet needs in the daily life. Method A qualitative study design was applied to analyze the responses to the Psychological Outcome Profiles Questionnaire (PSYCHLOPS). An inductive approach using content analysis was utilized to explore what Arabic-speaking refugee youth and young adults conceptualize as their mental health problem. Alderfer’s Existence-Relatedness-Growth theory was employed deductively to understand which needs are unmet in relation to their mental distress. Results The identified problems fell into one of three main domains: challenges within the self, difficulties in exile and challenges in the encounter with ‘the other’. The mental health problems hindered existence needs and needs of relatedness, as described by the Alderfer’s existence-relatedness-growth (ERG) theory.