Abstract Purpose Forced migration increases vulnerability to exploitation. Globally, around 50 million people are affected by human trafficking, which often involves trauma with negative mental health effects. Forced migrants already face elevated risks of PTSD, depression, and anxiety, yet the specific association of trafficking on their mental health remains unclear. Methods Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and overall stress were assessed using standardized screening instruments (PC-PTSD-5, PHQ-4, and the Distress Thermometer). Experiences of human trafficking were measured with a modified version of the Adult Human Trafficking Screening Tool (AHTST) among forced migrants in Germany. Missing data were handled using multiple imputation. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between human trafficking and positive screenings for the respective mental health conditions. Results A total of N = 1108 forced migrants participated in the study. Depending on the imputation model, between 49% and 56% of all participants screened positive for PTSD, 60% to 71% for depression, and 41% to 52% for an anxiety disorder. Among participants who screened positive for these mental health conditions, a positive screen for human trafficking was associated with a 30–40% higher probability of screening positive for PTSD and a 15% to 20% higher probability of screening positive for depression or anxiety disorder. Conclusions Forced migrants with a history of human trafficking are at elevated risk for PTSD, depression, and anxiety than those without, underscoring the need for early identification and tailored psychosocial support.
Abstract Background Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe mental illness associated with emotional and functional impairment, elevated suicide risk, and high individual and societal costs. BPD is under-researched in the general population, especially among males, and from a developmental perspective. We examined the prevalence and development of BPD symptoms in young men and explored the longitudinal associations with risk-taking behaviors. Methods Data came from the prospective-longitudinal Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors (C-SURF), a population sample of young men. Participants were screened for BPD risk using the McLean Screening Instrument (MSI-BPD) at mean age 25 (2016–2018; n = 5,516) and again at mean age 28 (2019–2020; n = 5,367). Risk-taking behaviors (e.g., interpersonal violence, gambling, substance use) were self-reported at both time points. Multilevel regression models examined within-person changes in BPD symptoms, including self-harm, and risk-taking behaviors over time. Results 7.4% of participants had a high risk of BPD, defined by endorsing 7 + MSI-BPD items at least once. Among those with 7 + items endorsed at the first assessment, 29.5% still endorsed 7 + items three years later. Despite a general within-person decline in BPD symptoms with age, participants at initially high risk for BPD continued to exhibit elevated levels of risk-taking behaviors after three years. Conclusion BPD symptomatology affects a substantial proportion of young men. Despite its modest stability over time, it is associated with persistent engagement in various risk-taking behaviors. Interventions targeting BPD symptoms in male populations may offer a promising avenue towards mitigating substantial psychosocial burden associated with these behaviors.
