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. 2024 Jun 20;21(6):805.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph21060805.

A Scoping Review of Instruments Used in Measuring Social Support among Refugees in Resettlement

Godfred O Boateng  1   2 , Karin Wachter  3 , Roseanne C Schuster  4 , Tanya L Burgess  3 , Mary Bunn  5
Affiliations

A Scoping Review of Instruments Used in Measuring Social Support among Refugees in Resettlement

Godfred O Boateng et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

This study aimed to systematically review current research on the application of existing social support scales in research with refugees in resettlement, assess their quality, and identify gaps in measurement to enhance research and practice. A scoping review was conducted on the extant literature published until March 2023. A team of researchers conducted search, sorting, and data extraction processes following best practices for scale development and validation. Of the 1185 studies collected from the search process, 41 articles were retained in the final analysis, from which 17 distinct social support instruments used in research with resettled refugees were identified. An assessment of all 17 instruments showed the presence of one or more limitations associated with construct, criterion, convergent, and/or discriminant validity. Test of reliability was assessed in all studies, with a range of 0.80 to 0.90. Our findings show that most of the research evaluating social support among resettled refugees is conducted without measurement instruments adequately validated in the resettlement context. This analysis highlights the need for rigorously developed social support scales that reflect the lived experiences, needs, and priorities of resettled refugees.

Keywords: measurement; refugee; reliability; resettlement; social support; validity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of the search and selection process.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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