Resilience and Mental Health Among Syrian Refugee Children in Jordan

Overview

Journal J Immigr Minor Health

Publisher Springer

Specialties Public Health
Social Sciences

Date 2021 Apr 26

PMID 33900548

Citations 17

Authors

Rebecca Dehnel

Heyam Dalky

Subashini Sudarsan

Wael K Al-Delaimy

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Refugee populations are at high risk of experiencing trauma and developing negative mental health outcomes. The resilience of Syrian refugee children is not well established as far as modifying the association between trauma and mental illness. A total of 339 Syrian refugee children aged 10 to 17 were surveyed to assess resilience, depression and history of trauma. All children reported exposure to at least one traumatic event, 48.6% reported exposure to highly salient traumatic events such as being held hostage, kidnapping or imprisonment. High rates of suicidal ideation and depression symptomatology were found. Resilience was strongly inversely related to depression. Relational support was found to be the most protective resilience factor and was the most highly correlated with less depressive symptomatology. Empowering children and families to build resilience through social support may be a viable prevention and management approach to other unaffordable or unavailable treatments for mental illnesses.

Citing Articles

Comparative Evaluation of Health Status of Syrian Refugee and Tur CCH_70042 kish Children, Alongside the Factors Influencing Sociocultural Adaptation of Syrian Children in Türkiye.

Kunuroglu F, Yuzbasi D, Kaval S, Kucukyilmaz E Child Care Health Dev. 2025; 51(1):e70042.

PMID: 39842880 PMC: 11753904. DOI: 10.1111/cch.70042.

Measurement tools used to assess individual health assets among refugee populations: a scoping review.

Ewunie T, Hayen A, Dawson A Health Promot Int. 2025; 40(1.

PMID: 39820457 PMC: 11739720. DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daae199.

Receipt of humanitarian cash transfers, household food insecurity and the subjective wellbeing of Syrian refugee youth in Jordan.

Sieverding M, Jamaluddine Z Public Health Nutr. 2025; 28(1):e25.

PMID: 39764637 PMC: 11822618. DOI: 10.1017/S1368980024002660.

Psychosocial, emotional and behavioral problems, quality of life, and mental health care seeking behaviors among children and adolescents in Jordan: a national school-based survey.

Khader Y, Abu Khudair S, Tanaka E, Kufoof L, Al Nsour M, Aqel A Front Public Health. 2024; 12:1409158.

PMID: 39600408 PMC: 11589819. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1409158.

Self-compassion and association with distress, depression, and anxiety among displaced Syrians: A population-based study.

Alsamman S, Dajani R, Al-Delaimy W PLoS One. 2024; 19(9):e0309051.

PMID: 39298519 PMC: 11412651. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309051.

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