Post-migration stressors and mental health in SOGIE refugees: a critical review and conceptual model for quantitative measurement

Refugees with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression (SOGIE) experience alarming rates of mental health conditions, often exceeding those of non-SOGIE refugees and the general population. Despite this, quantitative research on this population remains extremely scarce, with less than a handful of studies looking at the impact of post-migration stressors. This critical review examines the existing literature to identify a methodological gap where current quantitative approaches fail to capture the structural and psychosocial hardships documented in qualitative research, such as retraumatizing asylum processes, intersectional discrimination, and exclusion from both home and host communities. To address this, the article proposes a comprehensive conceptual model integrating Minority Stress Theory with the taxonomy of Social Identity Threat. This model delineates both distal and proximal stressors mapped with SOGIE refugee experiences. It concludes by outlining measurable domains aligned with best practices for scale development, providing a foundational framework for future quantitative research to validate these stressors and improve culturally sensitive mental health care for SOGIE refugees.