[Inventory and evaluation of data sources on the mental health of children and adolescents with a history of migration in Germany : Results of the STRONGDATA-Kids project].
Bug M, Koschollek C, et al. • Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz • 2026
Routine data and surveys are complementary and both indispensable for public health reporting, yet despite broader use of migration-related indicators, further methodological and structural developments are needed to validly represent the mental health of children and adolescents with a history of migration.
Key Findings
Results
A total of 37 data sources in Germany were identified that include information on the mental health of children and adolescents with a history of migration.
The mapping covered data sources available since the year 2000
Inclusion criteria required information on mental health of children and adolescents with a history of migration and a sample size of n ≥ 1000
The identification was conducted within the STRONGDATA-Kids project
Data quality and barriers to access and use were assessed using a scorecard comprising eight dimensions
Results
Since 2019, a diversification in the use of migration-related indicators can be observed, particularly with regard to country of birth including that of parents.
This trend toward diversification represents a methodological shift in how migration background is operationalized in data sources
Country of birth (including that of parents) was specifically highlighted as a key indicator gaining broader use
This finding reflects an evolution in data collection practices over time within the identified data sources
Results
Personal resources and resilience, as well as emotional and behavioural problems, were the most frequently assessed mental health dimensions among the identified data sources.
These two domains emerged as the most common mental health topics captured across the 37 identified data sources
This finding reflects which aspects of child and adolescent mental health are prioritized in existing German data infrastructure
Other mental health dimensions were assessed less frequently across the data landscape
Results
Routine data and surveys demonstrate complementary strengths, with routine data showing strengths in standardisation and reliability, while surveys ensure timely provision of data and flexibility.
This distinction was identified through the scorecard evaluation across eight dimensions
The complementary nature of these two data source types means both are considered indispensable for public health reporting
Neither data source type alone is sufficient to fully capture the mental health of children and adolescents with migration history
Results
The main access barriers to both routine data and surveys occur at the structural level, partly due to decentralised responsibilities.
Structural-level barriers were identified as the most significant obstacles to data access and use
Decentralised responsibilities within Germany's administrative system were specifically cited as a contributing factor
These barriers affect the usability of data sources for public health reporting purposes
Discussion
Despite broader use of migration-related indicators, considerable gaps remain in the availability and linkage of migration-related health data in Germany.
Further methodological and structural developments are needed, including standardised indicator sets
Diversity-oriented research strategies are identified as a necessary development
Systematic data linkage is highlighted as essential to validly represent the mental health of children and adolescents with migration history
The paper notes that inclusive data systems are essential for evidence-based health policy but are currently lacking
What This Means
This research systematically catalogued and evaluated German data sources that track the mental health of children and adolescents who have a migration background. The researchers searched for data collected since 2000 with sample sizes of at least 1,000 participants, and assessed the quality, accessibility, and usefulness of these sources for public health reporting. They found 37 such data sources and rated them using a framework covering eight different quality dimensions.
The study found that the types of information collected about migration background have become more varied since 2019, with more sources now recording country of birth for both children and their parents. The most commonly measured mental health topics were personal strengths and resilience, as well as emotional and behavioral problems. Two main types of data sources — administrative/routine records and surveys — were found to have different but complementary strengths: routine records are more standardized and reliable, while surveys are more flexible and up-to-date. However, both types face significant barriers to access, largely because responsibilities for data collection and management are spread across many different agencies and levels of government in Germany.
This research suggests that no single type of data source is sufficient on its own to fully understand the mental health of migrant children and adolescents in Germany. The authors call for better coordination between data systems, standardized ways of measuring migration-related factors, and research approaches that are designed to be inclusive of diverse populations. Without these improvements, it will remain difficult for policymakers to get an accurate and complete picture of the mental health needs of this population group.
Bug M, Koschollek C, Detering B, Wiemker V, Weiss J, Bozorgmehr K, et al.. (2026). [Inventory and evaluation of data sources on the mental health of children and adolescents with a history of migration in Germany : Results of the STRONGDATA-Kids project].. Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00103-026-04246-2