At Barnafrid, I conduct research on mental health among children and young people with refugee backgrounds. Most children and young people who have fled their homes have experienced some form of violence, but only a minority develop mental health problems. In my research, I try to understand these differences in health and use person-centered statistical methods to increase knowledge about risk and protective factors and the link between violence and mental health problems in this group.
Johan Andersson
PhD student
I am an analyst at Barnafrid, the National centre for knowledge concerning violence against children, and a licensed psychologist with a PhD in medical science.
Research on children and young adults with refugee backgrounds
Publications
2026
Exposure to violence in public places among youths with a refugee background and their Swedish-born peers
Scientific Reports, Vol. 16, Article 17529
(Article in journal)
https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-56584-5
Akuta stressreaktioner och PTSD
Barn- och ungdomspsykiatri Fjärde utgåvan: Del 2: Kliniska syndrom och funktionsnedsättningar, p. 323-338
(Chapter in book)
Understanding patterns of violence exposure and mental health among adolescents with refugee backgrounds
(Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary)
https://dx.doi.org/10.3384/9789181183900
Prevalence and discriminant validity of PTSD and CPTSD in a community sample of adolescents with refugee backgrounds residing in Sweden
European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
(Article in journal)
https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00787-025-02858-8
2025
Prevalence and validity of CPTSD in a community sample of adolescents with refugee backgrounds
European Journal of Public Health, Vol. 35
(Article in journal)
https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckaf161.660