A report published by the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) in cooperation with the Hertie School of Governance shows that refugees in Germany are more dissatisfied with their lives when they have children or partners abroad.

Surveys were conducted with a total of 3,400 persons who fled to Germany between January 2013 and January 2016.

The separation from children is most difficult for refugees. Refugees who live in Germany without their children responded with higher levels of dissatisfaction than refugees who were separated from their spouses. Other factors showed lesser impacts on the results.

Almost one in four parents without a child

In Germany, 9 percent of all refugees aged 18-49 have one or more children living in another country. 12 percent of refugees are affected by separation from their spouse or partner. Looking only at refugees who have children, 23 percent are separated from at least one child. 27 percent of those who are married are separated from their partners.

Figures show that the majority of refugees living separated from their children are male, predominantly from sub-Saharan countries.

"Family is of great importance for the sense of well-being," says Diana Schacht, a researcher at the DIW. Integration is more successful if the family is in one place, she says. Katharina Spieß, head of education and family at DIW adds: "We shouldn’t underestimate the potential that families can have for successful integration. The aspect should play a bigger part in the debate on family reunification."