Non-Cochrane · aetiology · PM40864279
Immigration detention of children: a systematic review and meta-analysis of physical and mental health impacts.
Sherif Bafreen, Hocking Debbie C, Asghari-Jafarabadi Mohammad, et al. · European child & adolescent psychiatry · 2026 · PubMed · doi:10.1007/s00787-025-02832-4
Findings
Population Asylum-seeking and refugee children (<18 years) detained for migration reasons, in upper-middle and high income countries
15 findings
| Immigration detention (exposure) | None (pooled mean SDQ score; compared descriptively with population norms) | SDQ conduct problems subscale (0-10) In detention or shortly after release · Immigration detention in Australia, UK, USA · Trim-and-fill adjusted | Pooled mean score 2.58 [1.29, 3.86] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Immigration detention (exposure) | None (pooled mean SDQ score; compared descriptively with population norms) | SDQ hyperactivity-inattention subscale (0-10) In detention or shortly after release · Immigration detention in Australia, UK, USA · Mixed model meta-analysis (text and abstract) Unresolved: the two extractors disagree on this row. | Pooled mean score 2.58 [0.88, 4.27] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Immigration detention (exposure) | None (pooled mean SDQ score; compared descriptively with population norms) | SDQ prosocial behavior subscale (0-10) In detention or shortly after release · Immigration detention in Australia, UK, USA · Random-effects REML, Figure 2 (Lorek 2009, Mares 2016, Zwi 2017) | Pooled mean score 5.66 [3.24, 8.09] GRADE not reported 3 studies |
| Immigration detention (exposure) | None (pooled mean SDQ score; compared descriptively with population norms) | SDQ total difficulties score (0-40) In detention or shortly after release · Immigration detention in Australia, UK, USA · Trim-and-fill adjusted | Pooled mean score 15.16 [10.09, 20.24] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Immigration detention (exposure) | None (pooled mean SDQ score; compared descriptively with population norms) | SDQ total difficulties score (0-40) In detention or shortly after release · Immigration detention in Australia, UK, USA · Random-effects REML, Figure 2 (Lorek 2009, Mares 2016, Zwi 2017) | Pooled mean score 19.21 [16.62, 21.81] GRADE not reported 3 studies |
| Immigration detention (exposure) | None (pooled mean SDQ score; compared descriptively with population norms) | SDQ conduct problems subscale (0-10) In detention or shortly after release · Immigration detention in Australia, UK, USA · Mixed model meta-analysis (text and abstract) Unresolved: the two extractors disagree on this row. | Pooled mean score 2.93 [1.53, 4.32] GRADE not reported 3 studies · 239 participants |
| Immigration detention (exposure) | None (pooled mean SDQ score; compared descriptively with population norms) | SDQ peer problems subscale (0-10) In detention or shortly after release · Immigration detention in Australia, UK, USA · Trim-and-fill adjusted | Pooled mean score 3.12 [2.12, 4.12] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Immigration detention (exposure) | None (pooled mean SDQ score; compared descriptively with population norms) | SDQ total difficulties score (0-40) In detention or shortly after release · Immigration detention in Australia, UK, USA · Mixed model meta-analysis (text and abstract) Unresolved: the two extractors disagree on this row. | Pooled mean score 16.63 [11.19, 22.07] GRADE not reported 3 studies · 239 participants |
| Immigration detention (exposure) | None (pooled mean SDQ score; compared descriptively with population norms) | SDQ conduct problems subscale (0-10) In detention or shortly after release · Immigration detention in Australia, UK, USA · Random-effects REML, Figure 2 (Lorek 2009, Mares 2016, Zwi 2017) | Pooled mean score 3.58 [2.92, 4.23] GRADE not reported 3 studies |
| Immigration detention (exposure) | None (pooled mean SDQ score; compared descriptively with population norms) | SDQ prosocial behavior subscale (0-10) In detention or shortly after release · Immigration detention in Australia, UK, USA · Mixed model meta-analysis (text and abstract) Unresolved: the two extractors disagree on this row. | Pooled mean score 6.60 [4.10, 9.10] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Immigration detention (exposure) | None (pooled mean SDQ score; compared descriptively with population norms) | SDQ emotional symptoms subscale (0-10) In detention or shortly after release · Immigration detention in Australia, UK, USA · Random-effects REML, Figure 2 (Lorek 2009, Mares 2016, Zwi 2017) | Pooled mean score 6.05 [4.63, 7.48] GRADE not reported 3 studies |
| Immigration detention (exposure) | None (pooled mean SDQ score; compared descriptively with population norms) | SDQ peer problems subscale (0-10) In detention or shortly after release · Immigration detention in Australia, UK, USA · Mixed model meta-analysis (text and abstract) Unresolved: the two extractors disagree on this row. | Pooled mean score 3.34 [2.17, 4.51] GRADE not reported 3 studies · 239 participants |
| Immigration detention (exposure) | None (pooled mean SDQ score; compared descriptively with population norms) | SDQ emotional symptoms subscale (0-10) In detention or shortly after release · Immigration detention in Australia, UK, USA · Mixed model meta-analysis (text and abstract) Unresolved: the two extractors disagree on this row. | Pooled mean score 5.40 [3.79, 7.01] GRADE not reported 3 studies · 239 participants |
| Immigration detention (exposure) | None (pooled mean SDQ score; compared descriptively with population norms) | SDQ hyperactivity-inattention subscale (0-10) In detention or shortly after release · Immigration detention in Australia, UK, USA · Random-effects REML, Figure 2 (Lorek 2009, Mares 2016, Zwi 2017) | Pooled mean score 4.43 [3.06, 5.80] GRADE not reported 3 studies |
| Immigration detention (exposure) | None (pooled mean SDQ score; compared descriptively with population norms) | SDQ peer problems subscale (0-10) In detention or shortly after release · Immigration detention in Australia, UK, USA · Random-effects REML, Figure 2 (Lorek 2009, Mares 2016, Zwi 2017); same estimate as leave-one-out analysis excluding MacLean 2019 | Pooled mean score 3.94 [3.66, 4.23] GRADE not reported 3 studies |
Included primary studies 28
Open in Studies| Study | Year | Also included by | Outcomes it informs here | Trial data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanes 2019 Costs and benefits of behavioural psychotherapy: a pilot study of neurotics treated by nurse-therapists. PMID:201959 | 1977 | 2 other reviews | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Mares 2016 Phosphodiesterase activator from rat kidney cortex. PMID:201632 | 1978 | 2 other reviews | SDQ prosocial behavior subscale (0-10) | not extracted yet |
| Amarasena 2023 The action of melatonin on single amphibian pigment cells in tissue culture. PMID:202360 | 1977 | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Tosif 2023 An inhibitory role for noradrenaline in the mouse vas deferens. PMID:202361 | 1977 | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Amarasena 2023 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Derluyn 2023 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Derluyn 2023 Increased response of adipose tissue of the ob/ob mouse to the action of adrenaline after treatment with thyroxin. PMID:202380 | 1977 | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Ehntholt 2018 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Essex 2022 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Essex 2022 Midpoint redox potentials of plant and algal ferredoxins. PMID:202262 | 1977 | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Hanes 2019 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Lorek 2009 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Lorek 2009 Cell-free synthesis of the precursor polypeptide for avian myeloblastosis virus DNA polymerase. PMID:200940 | 1977 | this review only | SDQ prosocial behavior subscale (0-10) | not extracted yet |
| MacLean 2019 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| MacLean 2019 Micropuncture study of renal phosphorus transport in hypophosphatemic vitamin D resistant rickets mice. PMID:201919 | 1977 | this review only | SDQ prosocial behavior subscale (0-10) | not extracted yet |
| Mares 2004 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Mares 2004 Membrane differentiation of cardiac myoblasts induced in vitro by an RNA-enriched fraction from adult heart. PMID:200443 | 1977 | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Mares 2016 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Rothe 2002 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Rothe 2002 [Some characteristics of mitochondrial multienzyme systems from rat liver mitochondria after heating of rats]. PMID:200283 | 1977 | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Rothe 2003 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Rothe 2003 A method for measurement of low levels of guanosine 3',5'-cylic monophosphate in blood plasma. PMID:200381 | 1977 | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Sidamon-Eristoff 2022 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Sidamon-Eristoff 2022 Phosphodiesterase in the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica. PMID:202282 | 1977 | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Steel 2004 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Steel 2004 The significance of the slow dissociation of divalent metal ions from myosin 'regulatory' light chains. PMID:200479 | 1977 | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Tosif 2023 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Zwi 2017 Increased numbers of heat-resistnat spores produced by two strains of Clostridium perfringens bearing temperate phage s9. PMID:201726 | 1977 | this review only | SDQ prosocial behavior subscale (0-10) | not extracted yet |
Overlap with other reviews
Reviews that include the same primary studies are not independent evidence. Shared counts match studies by PMID, DOI or NCT, and otherwise by author and year (a probable match). Only the non-Cochrane dental reviews have study lists, so overlap with Cochrane reviews is not counted yet.
Review question
| Element | Planned (methods) | Found (results) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | Children under 18 years detained for migration-related reasons (at the time of the study or after release) | Asylum-seeking and refugee children (15 studies, N = 4,890; ages 0 months to 22 years) |
| Intervention | Immigration detention (exposure) | Immigration detention (duration 2 weeks to 36 months; Australia n=8, USA n=4, UK n=2, Libya n=1) |
| Comparison | Not specified (randomised or quasi-experimental matched designs listed; no comparator required) | Mainstream population SDQ norms and non-detained community children (descriptive); no pooled comparator |
| Outcomes | Physical and mental health outcomes linked to detention | PTSD, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, developmental delay, malnutrition, dental caries, SDQ scores (meta-analysis of SDQ in 3 to 4 studies, n = 239) |
| Study designs | Quantitative peer-reviewed studies in English | 10 analytical cross-sectional and 5 prevalence studies |
| Timing | Not specified | Cross-sectional assessment during or after detention |