Moral Injury and Mental Health in Adolescent Refugees

This thesis explores whether young people with refugee backgrounds exhibit reactions to traumatic events that violated important moral values (termed ‘moral injury’). The project uses the results from surveying and interviewing young refugees, aged 16 to 25 years from diverse backgrounds living in Australia. This thesis shows that like adults, young refugees also experience moral injury, and this is associated with poor mental health. This is important for clinicians conducting clinical assessments and providing mental health support to young people with refugee backgrounds.