Cultural bereavement, perceived discrimination, community integration and post-migration stress among Afghan refugees in Pakistan

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the link between cultural bereavement and post-migration stress among Afghan refugees in Pakistan, and its goal is to focus on the mediating role of perceived discrimination and the moderating role of community integration. Design/methodology/approach Purposive sampling was used to collect data from 306 Afghan refugees (184 males and 122 females; age range = 18–40 years) residing in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta. Cross-cultural loss scale, perceived discrimination scale, community integration scale and post-migration stress scale-revised were used to measure study variables. Moderated mediation analysis was conducted to examine the relationships among these variables. Findings Results revealed that cultural bereavement significantly increased post-migration stress through perceived discrimination. This effect was more pronounced in communities with lower levels of integration and less visible at higher levels. These findings suggest that the loss of cultural identity and discrimination experiences exacerbate stress among refugees, while stronger community ties help mitigate this effect. Originality/value This study highlights the structural barriers to refugee integration in Pakistan and calls for targeted policies to promote social inclusion and mental well-being. By emphasizing the protective role of community engagement, this research contributes to the refugee well-being existing work and offers practical insights for fostering resilience among displaced populations.