Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Nov:85:130-140.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijintrel.2021.09.009. Epub 2021 Sep 22.

The psychological impacts of COVID-19 related stressors on Syrian refugees in Turkey: The role of resource loss, discrimination, and social support

G Kurt  1 , Z Ilkkursun  1 , A Javanbakht  2 , E Uygun  3 , A Karaoglan-Kahilogullari  4 , C Acarturk  1
Affiliations

The psychological impacts of COVID-19 related stressors on Syrian refugees in Turkey: The role of resource loss, discrimination, and social support

G Kurt et al. Int J Intercult Relat. 2021 Nov.

Abstract

COVID-19 does not leave behind refugees. They are disproportionately affected during the current pandemic. The present study aimed to investigate the psychological impacts of COVID-19 related stressors -resource loss and perceived discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic- on Syrian refugees in Turkey. Further, the buffering role of perceived social support against the detrimental impacts of such stressors was examined. An online cross-sectional study was conducted between September-October 2020. A sample of 345 Syrian refugees in Turkey completed the questions about demographic characteristics, resource loss and perceived discrimination during the pandemic, perceived social support, and depressive and anxiety symptoms. A high level of depressive and anxiety symptoms was reported in our sample. Resource loss and perceived discrimination during the pandemic significantly and positively predicted depressive and anxiety symptoms. Perceived social support acted as a buffer against the detrimental effect of resource loss on mental health. For those with higher perceived social support, resource loss during the pandemic did not significantly predict depressive and anxiety symptoms. The results indicate the detrimental role of COVID-19 related stressors on refugee mental health. Social support is an important protective factor for mental health amidst the pandemic. Our findings highlight the importance of considering the precarious conditions of refugees in all COVID-19 responses and communications.

Keywords: COVID-19; Discrimination; Mental health; Refugees; Resource loss; Social support.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Interaction plot of resource loss with social support on depressive symptoms.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Interaction plot of resource loss with social support on anxiety symptoms.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Interaction plot of perceived discrimination with social support on depressive symptoms.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Interaction plot of perceived discrimination with social support on anxiety symptoms.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Acarturk C., Cetinkaya M., Senay I., Gulen B., Aker T., Hinton D. Prevalence and predictors of posttraumatic stress and depression symptoms among Syrian refugees in a refugee camp. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 2018;206(1):40–45. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000693. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Acarturk C., McGrath M., Roberts B., Ilkkursun Z., Cuijpers P., Sijbrandij M.…Fuhr D.C. Prevalence and predictors of common mental disorders among Syrian refugees in Istanbul, Turkey: A cross-sectional study. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. 2021;56(3):475–484. doi: 10.1007/s00127-020-01941-6. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Adam-Troian J., Bagci S.C. The pathogen paradox: Evidence that perceived COVID-19 threat is associated with both pro- and anti-immigrant attitudes. International Review of Social Psychology. 2021;34(1):1–15. doi: 10.5334/irsp.469. - DOI
    1. Aiken L.S., West S.G., Reno R.R. California: Sage; Thousand Oaks: 1991. Multiple regression: Testing and interpreting interactions.
    1. Alemi Q., Stempel C., Siddiq H., Kim E. Refugees and covid-19: Achieving a comprehensive public health response. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2020;98(8) doi: 10.2471/BLT.20.271080. 510-510A. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources