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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 10/2017

Open Access 01-10-2017 | Original Paper

Social identity continuity and mental health among Syrian refugees in Turkey

Authors: Anouk Smeekes, Maykel Verkuyten, Elif Çelebi, Ceren Acartürk, Samed Onkun

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 10/2017

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Abstract

Purpose

Building upon social psychological work on social identity and mental health, this study among Syrian refugees in Turkey examined the importance of multiple group memberships and identity continuity for mental health and well-being.

Method

A survey study was conducted among the very difficult to reach population of Syrian refugees (N = 361). With path analysis in AMOS the associations were examined between multiple group memberships, social identity continuity and mental health and psychological well-being.

Results

Indicate that belonging to multiple groups before migration was related to a higher likelihood of having preserved group memberships after migration (i.e., sense of social identity continuity), which, in turn, predicted greater life satisfaction and lower levels of depression. Multiple group membership, however, was also directly related to higher depression.

Conclusions

Findings are discussed in relation to the importance of multiple group membership and feelings of identity continuity for refugees.
Footnotes
1
We used manifest variables as the sample size was too small to estimate a structural equation model with latent variables. A model with latent variables could not comply with the standard of 10 observations per estimated parameter.
 
2
We also tested the path model without all the control variables and this yielded the same pattern of results which are available upon request.
 
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Metadata
Title
Social identity continuity and mental health among Syrian refugees in Turkey
Authors
Anouk Smeekes
Maykel Verkuyten
Elif Çelebi
Ceren Acartürk
Samed Onkun
Publication date
01-10-2017
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 10/2017
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-017-1424-7

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