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Women in Refugee Camps: Which Coping Resources Help Them to Adapt?

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  • Orna Braun-Lewensohn

    (Conflict Management and Resolution Program, Department of Multidisciplinary Studies, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba 8410501, Israel)

  • Sarah Abu-Kaf

    (Conflict Management and Resolution Program, Department of Multidisciplinary Studies, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba 8410501, Israel)

  • Khaled Al-Said

    (Conflict Management and Resolution Program, Department of Multidisciplinary Studies, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba 8410501, Israel
    Kay Academic College of Education, Beersheba 84536, Israel)

Abstract

The present study aimed to explore the coping resources and mental health of women who have fled Syria to a neighboring European country. To that end, we examined the roles of sociodemographic factors, situational factors, and personal and community sense of coherence (SOC and ComSOC, respectively) in mental-health outcomes. One hundred and eleven refugee women aged 19–70 filled out self-reported questionnaires during August 2018 in a refugee camp in Greece. The questionnaires asked the participants for demographic information (i.e., age, level of education level, and time spent in the camp) and also addressed the situational factors of having received aid from various organizations, appraisal of danger during the war in Syria, and exposure to war experiences, as well as the coping resources of SOC and ComSOC. The results show that time spent in the camp, appraisal of danger, SOC, and ComSOC all play significant roles in predicting the variance of various mental-health outcomes. Together, those factors predict 56% of anxiety, 53% of depression, and 58% of somatization. SOC was also found to mediate the relationships between time spent in the camp and outcome variables, as well as the relationships between the appraisal of danger and the outcome variables. This indicates that SOC is crucial for good adaptation. These results will be discussed in light of the salutogenic theory.

Suggested Citation

  • Orna Braun-Lewensohn & Sarah Abu-Kaf & Khaled Al-Said, 2019. "Women in Refugee Camps: Which Coping Resources Help Them to Adapt?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-11, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:20:p:3990-:d:278151
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Orna Braun-Lewensohn & Sarah Abu-Kaf & Khaled Al-Said & Ephrat Huss, 2019. "Analysis of the Differential Relationship between the Perception of One’s Life and Coping Resources among Three Generations of Bedouin Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-9, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jeremy Mitonga-Monga & Claude-Hélène Mayer, 2020. "Sense of Coherence, Burnout, and Work Engagement: The Moderating Effect of Coping in the Democratic Republic of Congo," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-16, June.
    2. Catharina Zehetmair & David Kindermann & Inga Tegeler & Cassandra Derreza-Greeven & Anna Cranz & Hans-Christoph Friederich & Christoph Nikendei, 2021. "A Qualitative Evaluation of a Mother and Child Center Providing Psychosocial Support to Newly Arrived Female Refugees in a Registration and Reception Center in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-21, April.
    3. Mateusz Łuc & Marcin Pawłowski & Arkadiusz Jaworski & Karolina Fila-Witecka & Dorota Szcześniak & Hanna Augustyniak-Bartosik & Dorota Zielińska & Aleksandra Stefaniak & Anna Pokryszko-Dragan & Justyna, 2023. "Coping of Chronically-Ill Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Comparison between Four Groups," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-14, March.
    4. Orna Braun-Lewensohn & Claude-Hélène Mayer, 2020. "Salutogenesis and Coping: Ways to Overcome Stress and Conflict," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-6, September.
    5. Dorthe Varning Poulsen & Anna María Pálsdóttir & Sasja Iza Christensen & Lotta Wilson & Sigurd Wiingaard Uldall, 2020. "Therapeutic Nature Activities: A Step Toward the Labor Market for Traumatized Refugees," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-19, October.

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