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Finding strength in adversity: key protective factors and the role of experience of discrimination in young adult Syrian refugee stress, coping and wellbeing
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Finding strength in adversity: key protective factors and the role of experience of discrimination in young adult Syrian refugee stress, coping and wellbeing

Lilian Ghandour, Grant Brown, Malak Tleis, Marwa Fares, Hanan Al Masri, Fadi Al Halabi, Yamen Najjar, Bayan Louis, Rima Nakkash and Rima A Afifi
Conflict and health
03/16/2026
DOI: 10.1186/s13031-026-00781-6
PMID: 41840395
url
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-026-00781-6View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Refugees are at high risk for mental disorders given their exposure to violence and trauma in their country of origin, during migration, and in the host country. Protective factors can buffer, bolster, and build mental health. This paper aims to (i) assess the association between seven key protective factors - positive emotions, optimism and hope, supportive relationships, meaning/purpose in life, a sense of accomplishment, feelings of control/ autonomy, and engagement - both individually and synergistically, with four outcomes of wellbeing, adaptive coping, maladaptive coping, and stress; and (ii) to examine the moderating role of experience of discrimination among 86 Syrian refugee young adults (18-24 years, mean = 21.3) living in the Bekaa region, Lebanon. We analyzed the baseline assessment data of a larger RCT (brief title: Syrian Refugee Young Adults as Community Mental Health Workers-Lebanon; US trial number: NCT05265611/Lebanon trial number: LBCTR2023015206). Correlations between each of the mechanisms and the four outcomes listed above were examined; a series of regression models to examine the synergistic mechanism effect overall and between pairs of mechanisms were used. We further explored evidence for moderation of experience of discrimination on the four outcomes. We found that meaning, accomplishment, autonomy, positive emotions and hope were protective factors significantly (p≤0.05) and positively associated to wellbeing ([Formula: see text]M:0.67/Ac:0.64/Au:0.53/P.E.:0.62/H:0.55 and adaptive coping ([Formula: see text]M:0.36/Ac:0.32 /Au:0.33/P.E.:0.52/H:0.37); while being significantly and negatively associated to stress (ρ; M:-0.71/ Ac:-0.51/ Au:-0.44/P.E.:-0.5/ H:-0.47). Meaning (ρ:-0.39), accomplishment (ρ:-0.32) and autonomy (ρ:-0.21) were significantly and negatively associated with maladaptive coping. Engagement was not significantly associated with any of the 4 outcomes, and supportive relationships (ρ:-0.22) was only weakly associated with stress. We found weak evidence for synergy, only partially consistent with the hypothesized directions. Finally, we did not see significant evidence for effect moderation for adaptive and maladaptive coping, but a positive interaction was detected between experience of discrimination and wellbeing. Our findings confirm that protective mechanisms are critical for enhanced wellbeing and adaptive coping, and decreased stress and maladaptive coping. Interventions that increase these protective factors may influence young adult refugee wellbeing, particularly for those who experience discrimination.
 Discrimination Stress Protective factors Young adult Wellbeing Refugee Coping

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