Abstract
Background: The importance of resilience factors in the positive adaptation of refugee youth is widely recognised. However, their actual mechanism of impact remains under-researched. The aim of this study was therefore to explore protective and promotive resilience mechanisms to inform future interventions and policy. Promotive resilience is seen as a direct main effect and protective resilience as a moderating effect.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of Syrian youth recently resettled in Norway, aged 13–24 years. Regression and moderation analyses were used to explore different interactions, including moderated mediation using the PROCESS macro for SPSS.Result: A direct main effect of promotive resilience was found for health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and general mental distress, but not for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). No moderating effects of protective resilience were found. Post-migration stressors mediated the effects of potentially traumatic events (PTE) from war and flight, and this indirect effect was present at all levels of resilience.Conclusion: Despite high risk exposure and mental distress, resilience was also high. Broad resilience interventions targeting multiple factors would likely benefit the group, but these should include both individual assets and building supportive environments. Additionally, reducing current stress and providing treatment for those in need could enable recovery and increase the efficacy of resilience factors already present.
Highlights
The refugee experience of war, violence, and forced migration is associated with negative impacts on the mental health of children and youth, lasting well into their resettlement [1, 2]
Levels of general mental distress (36%) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (48%) were high, reflective of studies with Syrian youth resettled in neighbouring countries such as Jordan and Turkey [52, 53]
We found that resilience correlated with higher healthrelated quality of life (HRQoL) and less mental distress [52, 57]
Summary
The refugee experience of war, violence, and forced migration is associated with negative impacts on the mental health of children and youth, lasting well into their resettlement [1, 2]. Findings indicate that the majority of refugees retain or Resilience in Syrian Refugee Youth achieve positive health and well-being during the resettlement process [4,5,6]. The underlying mechanisms remain under-researched; as such, resilience processes central to mental health in refugee youth may be overlooked [9, 10]. This knowledge is important for protecting and promoting the individual and environmental resources necessary for positive adaptation. The importance of resilience factors in the positive adaptation of refugee youth is widely recognised. Their actual mechanism of impact remains under-researched. Promotive resilience is seen as a direct main effect and protective resilience as a moderating effect
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