Predicting poor mental health amongst older Syrian refugees in Lebanon during the COVID-19 pandemic: a multi-wave longitudinal study

This study aimed to identify predictors of poor mental health amongst older Syrian refugees living in Lebanon during the pandemic. It was conducted among 3,229 Syrian refugees aged 50 years or older from households that received assistance from a humanitarian organisation.

At wave one, 76.7% had poor mental health, and this increased to 89.2% and to 92.7% at waves three and five, respectively. Mental health predictors were found to be related to basic needs, rights and financial barriers. These allow humanitarian organisations to identify high risk individuals, organising interventions, and addressing root causes to boost resilience and well-being among older Syrian refugees in Lebanon.