Uncertainty is a pervasive aspect of the everyday experience of refugees and migrants, with legal, economic, and social difficulties taking a toll on young adults’ psychological well-being. People differ in how they perceive and cope with uncertain situations: research suggests that low tolerance for uncertainty is associated with higher anxiety and distress, whereas a higher ability to live with uncertainty may be linked to better mental health and coping.
The research project examines how post‑migration stressors and uncertainty relate to psychological well‑being among young adult migrants living in Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States. Drawing on transactional stress and coping models and ecological acculturation frameworks, the project focuses on legal, economic and social stressors in the country of residence. It investigates whether intolerance of uncertainty, perceived social support and general self‑efficacy moderate links between these contextual threats and well‑being. Using anonymous self‑report questionnaires, the study aims to clarify mechanisms of resilience and vulnerability to inform future psychosocial interventions and policies targeting migrant mental health.