Mental health and wellbeing
The Psychological Impact of the Age Dispute Process
Young Roots · 2024
About this report
This report examines the psychological impact of local authority-led age dispute processes on unaccompanied children seeking asylum in the UK. Using a focus group with seven age-disputed young people and a comparison of clinical distress scores, the study found that age-disputed young people presented with significantly higher levels of psychological distress than those not subject to dispute. Participants described prolonged uncertainty, identity confusion, broken trust with professionals, disruption to housing and education, cultural insensitivity in assessments, and experiences of intimidation and coercion. The report recommends a shift towards holistic, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive age assessment practices.
Research details
- Methodology
- Focus groupSecondary analysisMixed methods
- Sample size
- 57
- Sample
- Unaccompanied children and young people seeking asylum in the UK who had been subject to local authority age dispute processes, accessing psychological therapy through the Helen Bamber Foundation and Young Roots partnership
- Who it's about
- Asylum-seeking & refugee young people
- Place
- UK-wide
- Youth involvement
- Young people consulted