Xenophobic attitudes, behaviors and coping strategies among Lebanese people toward immigrants and refugees

Abstract

To assess the relationship between xenophobia and the coping strategies and evaluate factors associated with xenophobia in Lebanon. This cross-sectional study, conducted between March and July 2017, enrolled 433 participants. Severe xenophobia (β = 1.46) and female sex (β = 1.45) were associated with higher problem-focused engagement scores. Participants with a low income had lower problem-focused disengagement score compared to those without income. Moderate (β = 0.80) and intense xenophobia (β = 1.38) were significantly associated with higher emotion-focused engagement, whereas female sex was significantly associated with lower emotion-focused engagement (β = -0.71) and disengagement (β = -0.83). Being divorced compared to single (β = 2.32) and female sex (β = 2.04) were associated with higher xenophobia. Our study supports the prevalence of xenophobia amongst Lebanese but requires a broader assessment of that trend.