American Journal of Orthopsychiatry
Volume 86, Issue 4, 2016, Pages 393-408

Relation of psychosocial factors to diverse behaviors and attitudes among Somali refugees (Article)

Ellis B.H.* , Abdi S.M. , Lazarevic V. , White M.T. , Lincoln A.K. , Stern J.E. , Horgan J.G.
  • a Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolMA, United States
  • b Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
  • c Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolMA, United States, Department of Child and Family Development, San Diego State UniversityCA, United States
  • d Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolMA, United States
  • e Sociology and Health Sciences Departments, Northeastern UniversityMA, United States
  • f FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard School of Public HealthMA, United States, Pardee School of Global Studies, Boston UniversityMA, United States
  • g Center for Terrorism and Security Studies, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, United States, Global Studies Institute, Department of Psychology, Georgia State UniversityGA, United States

Abstract

Refugee studies have examined both resilience and adverse outcomes, but no research has examined how different outcomes co-occur or are distinct, and the social-contextual factors that give rise to these diverse outcomes. The current study begins to address this gap by using latent profile analysis to examine the ways in which delinquency, gang involvement, civic engagement, political engagement, and openness to violent extremism cluster among Somali refugees. We then use multivariable regression analyses to examine how adversity (e.g., discrimination, trauma, and marginalization) is associated with the identified latent classes. Data were collected from 374 Somali refugee young adults (Mage = 21.30 years, SD = 2.90, range 18-30, 38% female) from 4 different North American communities. Participants completed a structured survey assessing their experiences of adversity, delinquent and/or violent attitudes and behaviors (e.g., attitudes toward violent extremism, participation in delinquent behaviors, involvement in gangs), and positive outcomes (e.g., civic and political engagement). Our findings indicate that participants fall into 5 distinct groups, and that social-contextual and individual factors are uniquely related to those groups. Specifically, strong social bonds seem to be associated with positive outcomes. These findings point to the need to further examine both positive and negative outcomes, paying special attention to social- contextual factors. © 2016 American Psychological Association.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

political system Somali (people) social psychology refugee civic engagement violent extremism political engagement gang involvement human Refugees violence statistics and numerical data controlled study coping behavior Adaptation, Psychological social support ethnology Surveys and Questionnaires Young Adult United States Humans psychology attitude male female questionnaire population research Article adult posttraumatic stress disorder Somalia Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Juvenile Delinquency exposure to violence delinquency criminal behavior social behavior
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84949266512&doi=10.1037%2fort0000121&partnerID=40&md5=848d625115f0025d7335d1735e46ddc7
DOI: 10.1037/ort0000121
ISSN: 00029432
Cited by: 10
Original Language: English