Medicine, Conflict and Survival
Volume 34, Issue 3, 2018, Pages 185-200

Improving peace and well-being among Syrian refugee youth through a higher education initiative in Jordan (Article)

Al-Rousan T.* , Fredricks K. , Chaudhury S. , Albezreh S. , Alhokair A. , Nelson B.D.
  • a Division of Global Health, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
  • b Division of Global Health, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
  • c Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
  • d Division of Global Health, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
  • e Division of Global Health, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
  • f Division of Global Health, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

Forced migration affects overall health, especially when it happens at a young age. Focus group discussions and the Peace Evaluation Across Cultures and Environments (PEACE) survey were used to compare the effects of the programme on two groups: refugee university students who received full tuition support and a monthly living stipend (intervention group) and unsponsored Syrian students who were preparing for the end of high school examination (control group). The overall mean PEACE score among the intervention group was 152.0 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 147.4–156.5), while the control group mean score was 134.1 (95% CI: 129.1–139.1), p < 0.01. In addition to significantly higher mean total PEACE scores, the intervention group demonstrated better results for each of the seven constructs in the scale (t-test p < 0.05), with the largest differences seen in personal safety, group cohesion and agency. This effect was further elucidated in the focus group discussions, highlighting the psychosocial benefits of the scholarship programme due to improvements in their academic and financial status. This combined education and economic intervention for Syrian refugee youth has measurable positive effects on feelings of peace, security and well-being and can be used as a framework from which to design similar initiatives in other contexts of displacement. © 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Author Keywords

youth Education peace-building Refugees Syrian Well-being

Index Keywords

education Fellowships and Scholarships refugee Jordan Syrian Arab Republic human Refugees health status ethnology Young Adult Humans psychology Adolescent male female safety Universities university medical education Syria
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85054297068&doi=10.1080%2f13623699.2018.1518748&partnerID=40&md5=b980e8afeaf5858785ed558e977b7c2b
DOI: 10.1080/13623699.2018.1518748
ISSN: 13623699
Original Language: English