Sociocultural Adaptation and Social Support: The Mediating Role of Resilience in Syrian Refugees

Year 2023, Volume: 12 Issue: 3, 1313 - 1321, 26.09.2023

Oktay Tatlıcıoğlu , Hıdır Apak , Muhammet Cevat Acar

https://doi.org/10.37989/gumussagbil.1273189

Abstract

This study investigated the relationships between perceived social support, resilience, and sociocultural adaptation among Syrian refugees living in Turkey. The study used a simple random sample of 284 Syrian refugees from the Mardin province of Turkey. The researchers employed the Process Macro and bootstrap technique with 5000 resampling options to determine whether resilience mediated the relationship between sociocultural adaptation and social support. The analysis showed that perceived social support significantly predicted resilience and sociocultural adaptation among Syrian refugees. Furthermore, resilience was found to have a positive effect on sociocultural adaptation. Additionally, the study found that resilience mediated the relationship between social support and sociocultural adaptation. Overall, the findings suggest that perceived social support and resilience are important factors in promoting sociocultural adaptation among Syrian refugees in Turkey. These results may have implications for interventions aimed at improving the well-being and integration of refugees in host communities.

Keywords

Resilience, Social support, Sociocultural adaptation, Syrian refugees

Suriyeli Mültecilerde Sosyal Destek ile Sosyokültürel Uyum Arasındaki İlişkide Sağlamlığın Aracı Rolü

Abstract

Bu çalışma Türkiye'de yaşayan Suriyeli mülteciler arasında algılanan sosyal destek, sağlamlık ve sosyokültürel uyum arasındaki ilişkileri araştırmıştır. Çalışmada, Türkiye'nin Mardin ilinde kolayda örneklem yöntemiyle ulaşılan 284 Suriyeli mülteciye anket uygulanmıştır. Araştırmacılar, sağlamlığın sosyokültürel uyum ve sosyal destek arasındaki ilişkiye aracılık edip etmediğini belirlemek için Süreç Makrosu ve 5000 yeniden örnekleme seçeneğiyle önyükleme tekniğini kullanmıştır. Yapılan analiz sonuçlarına göre algılanan sosyal desteğin Suriyeli mülteciler arasında hem sağlamlığı hem de sosyokültürel uyumu önemli ölçüde yordadığı görülmüştür. Sağlamlığın sosyokültürel uyum üzerinde olumlu bir etkiye sahip olduğu bulunmuştur. Çalışma sonuçları sağlamlığın sosyal destek ile sosyokültürel uyum arasındaki ilişkide aracı rol oynadığını göstermektedir. Yani algılanan sosyal destek ve sağlamlığın Türkiye'deki Suriyeli mültecilerde sosyokültürel uyumu teşvik etmede önemli faktörler olduğu söylenebilir. Bu sonuçların, mültecilerin ev sahibi topluluklardaki refahını ve entegrasyonunu iyileştirmeyi amaçlayan müdahalelere katkı sunması beklenmektedir.

Keywords

Sağlamlık, Sosyal destek, Sosyokültürel uyum, Suriyeli mülteciler

References

• 1. UNHCR. (2023). “Situation Syria Regional Refugee Response: Durable Solutions”. Erişim adresi: https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/syria_durable_solutions#:~:text=Durable solutions for refugees from,access to resettlement in third (Erişim tarihi: 11.09.2023)
• 2. Aydin, H, Gundogdu, M. and Akgul, A. (2019). “Integration of Syrian Refugees in Turkey: Understanding the Educators’ Perception”. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 20, 1029–1040.
• 3. Solberg, Ø, Vaez, M, Johnson-Singh, C.M. and Saboonchi, F. (2020). “Asylum-seekers’ Psychosocial Situation: A Diathesis for Post-Migratory Stress and Mental Health Disorders?”. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2019.109914
• 4. Siriwardhana, C, Ali, S.S, Roberts, B. and Stewart, R. (2014). “A Systematic Review of Resilience and Mental Health Outcomes of Conflict-Driven Adult Forced Migrants”. Conflict and Health, 8. https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1505-8-13
• 5. Beiser, M. and Hou, F. (2001). “Language Acquisition, Unemployment and Depressive Disorder Among Southeast Asian Refugees: A 10-Year Study”. Social Science and Medicine, 53, 1321–1334.
• 6. Berry, J. W. (2005). “Acculturation: Living Successfully in Two Cultures”. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 29, 697–712.
• 7. Ward, C. and Fischer, R. (2008). “Personality, Cultural Intelligence, and Cross-Cultural Adaptation”. In: S. Ang & L. Van Dyne (Ed.). Handbook of Cultural Intelligence (159–173). New York.
• 8. Ward, C. and Kennedy, A. (1999). “The Measurement of Sociocultural Adaptation”. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 23, 659–677.
• 9. Searle, W. and Ward, C. (1990). “The Prediction of Psychological and Sociocultural Adjustment During Cross-Cultural Transitions”. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 14, 449–464.
• 10. Basım, H.N. ve Çetin, F. (2011). “Yetişkinler İçin Psikolojik Dayanıklılık Ölçeği’nin Güvenilirlik ve Geçerlilik Çalışması”. Türk Psikiyatri Dergisi, 22(2), 104-114.
• 11. Earvolino-Ramirez, M. (2007). “Resilience: A Concept Analysis”. In Nursing Forms (73–82). Malden: Blackwell Publishing Inc.
• 12. Arslan, G. (2021). “Çocuk ve Ergenlerde Psikolojik Sağlamlığın Geliştirilmesi”. İçinde G. Arslan & M. Yıldırım (Ed.). Okulda Pozitif Psikoloji: Kuramdan Uygulamaya (71–85). Ankara: Pegem Akademi.
• 13. Beiser, M. and Hou, F. (2006). “Ethnic Identity, Resettlement Stress and Depressive Affect Among Southeast Asian Refugees in Canada”. Social Science and Medicine, 63, 137–150.
• 14. Arnetz, J, Rofa, Y, Arnetz, B, Ventimiglia, M. and Jamil, H. (2013). “Resilience as a Protective Factor Against The Development of Psychopathology Among Refugees”. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 201, 167–172.
• 15. McLaughlin, A.A, Doane, L.S, Costiuc, A.L. and Feeny, N.C. (2009). ”Stress and Resilience”. In L. Sana & S. Martha (Ed.). Determinants of Minority Mental Health and Wellness. New York: Springer US.
• 16. Ungar, M. (2008). “Resilience Across Cultures”. British Journal of Social Work, 38, 218–235.
• 17. Lusk, M, Terrazas, S, Caro, J, Chaparro, P. and Puga Antúnez, D. (2019). “Resilience, Faith, and Social Supports Among Migrants and Refugees from Central America and Mexico”. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, 23, 1–22.
• 18. Chen, W, Hall, B.J, Ling, L. and Renzaho, A. M. (2017). “Pre-migration and Post-Migration Factors Associated with Mental Health in Humanitarian Migrants in Australia and The Moderation Effect of Post-Migration Stressors: Findings From The First Wave Data of The BNLA Cohort Study”. The Lancet Psychiatry, 4, 218–229.
• 19. Visser, E, Gosens, T, Den Oudsten, B.L. and De Vries, J. (2017). “The Course, Prediction, And Treatment Of Acute And Posttraumatic Stress in Trauma Patients: A Systematic Review”. Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 82, 1158–1183.
• 20. Jose, R. and Novaco, R.W. (2016). “Intimate Partner Violence Victims Seeking A Temporary Restraining Order: Social Support and Resilience Attenuating Psychological Distress”. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 31, 3352–3376.
• 21. Malkoc, A. and Yalçın, İ. (2015). “Relationships Among Resilience, Social Support, Coping, and Psychological Well-Being Among University Students”. Türk Psikolojik Danışma ve Rehberlik Dergisi, 5, 35–43.
• 22. Kılıç, C. (2021). “Sığınmacı ve Mülteci̇lerde Psi̇koloji̇k Dayanıklılık Üzeri̇nde Sosyal Desteği̇n Etki̇si̇”. 3. Sektör Sosyal Ekonomi Dergi̇si̇, 56, 1006–1020.
• 23. Mallinckrodt, B. and Leong, F.T. (1992). “International Graduate Students, Stress, and Social Support”. Journal of College Student Development, 33, 71–78.
• 24. Zhang, W. and Ta, V.M. (2009). “Social Connections, Immigration-Related Factors, and Self-Rated Physical and Mental Health Among Asian Americans”. Social Science and Medicine, 68, 2104–2112.
• 25. Hayes, A.F. (2018). “Introduction to Mediation, Moderation, and Conditional Process Analysis: A Regression-Based Approach”. Guilford Publications.
• 26. Merhi, R. and Kazarian, S.S. (2012). “Validation of the Arabic Translation of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Arabic-MSPSS) in a Lebanese Community Sample”. The Arab Journal of Psychiatry, 23 (2), 159-168.
• 27. Yalçın, Ö. (2018). Sosyokültürel Uyum Ölçeği (SCAS-R)’nin Gaziantep/Türkiye’de Yaşayan Suriyeli Göçmenler Örneğinde Arapça’ya Uyarlama, Güvenirlik ve Geçerlik Çalışması. Yüksek Lisans Tezi. Hasan Kalyoncu Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, Gaziantep.
• 28. Resilience Research Centre (2013). “The Adult Resilience Measure: User Manual”. Halifax, NS: Resilience Research Centre, Dalhousie University.
• 29. Gez, A. (2018). Suriyeli Çocuk ve Ergenlerde Algılanan Sosyal Destek ve Psikolojik Sağlamlık Arasındaki İlişki. Yüksek Lisans Tezi. Çağ Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, Mersin.
• 30. Snoubar, Y. and Zengin, O. (2022). “Social Support Effectiveness of the Mental Health of Immigrants Living in Belgium”. British Journal of Social Work, 52, 2707–2725.
• 31. Cao, Q. and Zhou, Y. (2021). “Association Between Social Support and Life Satisfaction Among People with Substance Use Disorder: The Mediating Role of Resilience”. Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, 20, 415–427.
• 32. Yıldırım, M. and Tanrıverdi, F.Ç. (2020). “Social Support, Resilience and Subjective Well-Being in College Students”. Journal of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing, 10, 1–9.
• 33. Sánchez-Martí, A. and Sandín, M.P. (2013). “Joves Immigrants i Persistència Acadèmica: Què Ens Diuen Les Seves Xarxes Personals?” Temps d’Educació, 44, 177–190.
• 34. Pan, J.Y. (2011). “A Resilience-Based and Meaning-Oriented Model of Acculturation: A Sample of Mainland Chinese Postgraduate Students in Hong Kong”. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 35, 592–603.
• 35. Green, M, King, E. and Fischer, F. (2019). “Acculturation, Social Support and Mental Health Outcomes Among Syrian Refugees in Germany”. Journal of Refugee Studies, 34, 2421–2433.
• 36. Singh, S, McBride, K. and Kak, V. (2015). “Role of Social Support in Examining Acculturative Stress and Psychological Distress Among Asian American Immigrants and Three Sub-Groups: Results From NLAAS”. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 17, 1597–1606.
• 37. Jibeen, T. (2011). “Moderators of Acculturative Stress in Pakistani Immigrants: The Role Of Personal and Social Resources”. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 35, 523–533.
• 38. Şafak-Ayvazoğlu, A, Kunuroglu, F. and Yağmur, K. (2021). “Psychological and Socio-cultural Adaptation of Syrian Refugees in Turkey”. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 80, 99–111.
• 39. Brisset, C, Safdar, S, Lewis, J.R. and Sabatier, C. (2010). “Psychological and Sociocultural Adaptation of University Students in France: The Case of Vietnamese International Students”. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 34, 413–426.
• 40. Lee, J.S, Koeske, G.F. and Sales, E. (2004). “Social Support Buffering of Acculturative Stress: A Study of Mental Health Symptoms Among Korean International Students”. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 28, 399–414.