Abstract
Moral injury can be defined as the psychological, social, and spiritual consequences
that arise from being involved in or witnessing events that violate a person's deeply held
moral beliefs and values. Individuals who are forcibly displaced from their homes are
especially vulnerable to moral injury due to their likely exposure to multiple traumatic and
stressful events both before and after migration. Emerging research suggests that moral injury
is a useful construct for understanding the psychological impacts of being exposed to events
that transgress deeply held moral beliefs in refugees and asylum seekers. This thesis aimed to
contribute to the literature on moral injury within this population.
Part one of this portfolio presents a scoping review of the literature investigating
moral injury in those that have sought refuge in another country, and its potential role in the
development of psychological distress and mental health problems. The review suggests that
addressing moral injury through tailored, evidence-based interventions can enhance
psychological outcomes in refugee populations. The second part of this portfolio presents a
qualitative empirical paper exploring asylum seekers’ experiences of moral injury during and
beyond the Home Office substantive interview. The findings shed light on the lived
experiences of individuals who feel morally injured by the interview process and other
aspects of their asylum-seeking journey, highlighting the profound impact it had on their
sense of self, ability to trust, and mental health. This research has clinical implications for
understanding the potential link between the asylum-seeking process, moral injury, and its
association with adverse psychological outcomes.