Publication Date
3-2026
Summary
This working paper describes the adaptation, pilot testing, and initial validation of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Multidimensional Deprivation Index (MDI) for use among resettled Afghan refugees. The adaptation process included a scoping review, a qualitative descriptive study, and consultation with a community advisory board. The adapted index was subsequently pilot tested among 336 resettled Afghan households in the United States. Results indicate high rates of deprivation across all seven domains of the adapted MDI. Notably, employment and career mobility domain showed limited association with other domains, confirming the emerging evidence that employment alone no longer could be an indicator of economic integration.
Author's ORCID
Naseh, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1717-3173
Recommended Citation
Naseh, Mitra; Bechara, Saria; Zeng, Yingying; Lee, Jihye; and Potocky, Miriam, "Adaptation and Initial Validation of the U.S. Census Multidimensional Deprivation Index for Resettled Afghans" (2026). Forced Migration Initiative. 1.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/forcedmigration/1