Understanding the impact of social connectedness on health and well-being among refugees in Australia

Abstract The health and well-being of refugees are significant global concerns, yet the specific types of social connectedness that most effectively provide the greatest benefits during resettlement remain unclear. This study investigates the impact of social connectedness, including community participation and social ties, on general health and subjective well-being at different stages of the resettlement process. Using three waves of data from the Building a New Life in Australia study, we analyse responses from 1,509 principal applicants who completed the survey in Wave 1, employing weighted least squares regression to examine these associations. We find that while participation in community activities with co-ethnics is important for health and well-being at 3 and 5 years after arrival, neighbourly interactions within the local community most significantly and consistently predict better health and well-being throughout the resettlement process. The findings emphasize the importance of designing resettlement programs that foster neighbourly connections and encourage active participation in co-ethnic communities and the local neighbourhood to support refugees’ health and well-being.