The pains amidst starting a new life: investigating adjustment disorder in Hong Kong migrants’ transition to the UK

TL;DR

This study explores the mental health challenges, particularly adjustment disorder, faced by Hong Kong migrants moving to the UK under a humanitarian visa scheme.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into adjustment disorder among reluctant migrants, highlighting stressors and risk factors specific to this population.

Findings

31.8% of Hong Kong migrants in the UK were likely experiencing adjustment disorder.

Common stressors included moving to a new home, language barriers, and cultural differences.

Lower education and pre-existing mental illness increased the risk of adjustment disorder.

Abstract

Migration can be a stressful process. While conventional studies often focus on voluntary migration, reluctant migration and its association with adjustment disorder remain underexplored. This study examined the prevalence rate and determinants of adjustment disorder among Hong Kong migrants arriving in the UK after mid-2020, following the UK’s announcement of a humanitarian visa route for eligible Hong Kong citizens, namely the British National (Overseas) Visa Scheme. An online survey was conducted on 1,310 valid Hong Kong migrants. Findings indicate 31.8% of the respondents were likely experiencing adjustment disorder and the disorder remains highly prevalent 2 years after their arrival. The most common life stressors included moving to a new home (41.1%), language barrier (32.9%), pressure from cultural differences (29.7%), financial problems (27.6%), and career break due to migration (24.8%). Chronic stressors are statistically significant in screening for adjustment disorder. Multivariate logistic regression models suggested Hong Kong migrants with lower education backgrounds and pre-existing mental illness are more likely to suffer from adjustment disorder. This study enriches extant understanding on the mental health toll behind reluctant migration through the perspective of adjustment disorder. We highlighted potential policy gaps for migrants arriving through humanitarian visas.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-24311-1.

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