Unpacking refugees’ psychological functioning: How subjective well-being bridges quality of life and life satisfaction among UNHCR camp residents in Niger

Background: Refugees often face profound psychosocial challenges that adversely affect their quality of life (QoL), subjective well-being (SWB), and life satisfaction (LS). Grounded in positive psychology—particularly Seligman’s PERMA model—and Skewington’s social-psychological framework, this study examines how QoL and SWB contribute to LS among refugees residing in a UNHCR camp in Niger. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the relationships among QoL, SWB, and LS, and to assess whether SWB mediates the relationship between QoL and LS. Materials and Methods: A total of 199 participants (57.3% men, 25.1% women, 10.1% non-binary; 7.5% undisclosed), aged 12 to 66 years (M = 28.98, SD = 9.6), were recruited through purposive convenience sampling in collaboration with UNHCR-Niger. All participants were enrolled in the Emergency Transit Mechanism (ETM) program and awaiting resettlement. Standardized instruments were administered, including the WHOQoL-BREF, the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), and the PERMA Profiler. Pearson correlations and mediation analyses were conducted. Results: SWB was strongly and positively correlated with LS (r =.68, p <.01), and QoL showed a moderate positive correlation with LS (r =.52, p <.05). Mediation analysis revealed that SWB significantly mediated the relationship between QoL and LS (indirect effect = 0.42, p <.05). Conclusion: Findings underscore the mediating role of SWB in the relationship between QoL and LS, even in contexts of displacement and adversity. Interventions aimed at enhancing SWB, social support, and personal growth may improve overall life satisfaction and resilience among refugee populations. These results have important implications for mental health professionals, humanitarian workers, and policymakers designing evidence-based support programs.