Multidimensional Poverty and Perceived Discrimination Among Newly Resettled Afghans in the United States

Refugees experience high poverty rates, yet research on refugees’ economic and social integration remains limited, especially among Afghan refugees resettled in the United States following the 2021 Taliban takeover. This study explores multidimensional poverty and discrimination among 185 newly resettled Afghan refugee households in St. Louis, Missouri. Cross-sectional survey data were collected in Dari, Pashto, and English. Poverty was assessed using an adapted Multidimensional Deprivation Index (MDI) covering five domains: living standards, education, health, economic security, and housing quality. Discrimination was measured using three validated scales, and regression models were used to examine factors associated with multidimensional poverty and discrimination. Most surveyed households (61.2%) experienced multidimensional poverty (deprived in ≥ 2 domains), with the highest rates observed in living standards (59.2%), housing quality (39.9%), and health (38.7%). Nearly half of participants (44.3%) experienced multidimensional discrimination, yet poverty and discrimination were not significantly associated. English proficiency was associated with lower poverty risk, and age moderated the relationship between years of residency and poverty. The association between English proficiency and perceived discrimination differed by gender. Cluster analysis indicated that poverty clusters were clearly differentiated by sociodemographic characteristics, while discrimination cut across demographic profiles. These findings reveal complex, nonlinear integration patterns among Afghan refugees in the United States, highlighting the need for differentiated, multidimensional approaches to address both poverty and discrimination.