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Syrian Refugee Children: A Study of Strengths and Difficulties

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Abstract

This research examined the psychological status of Syrian refugee children residing in Antalya, Turkey using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The psychological aspects explored in the SDQ are emotional symptoms, hyperactivity, conduct disorder, peer relationship problems, and prosocial behavior. We analyzed scores for Syrian refugee children between the ages of 9 and 15 years living in the city center of Antalya, Turkey. For comparison, a similar group of Turkish students completed the same questionnaire. Significant effects of psychological deficit were found for the Syrian refugee children. We conclude that Syrian refugee children in Antalya suffer from severe emotional and conduct problems compared to the Turkish children (who have heightened hyperactivity). Most startling is that both Syrian and Turkish youth in this study have the highest averages for Total Difficulties worldwide, with Syrian refugee children scoring twice as high as their United States counterparts. The results of this study strongly support the need for psychological counseling for refugee children. Additionally, access to counseling should be understood to be critical to refugees’ human right to rehabilitation.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Mina Fazel, Associate Professor at Oxford University, whose advice and suggestions inspired us during the study. We would also like to thank the Youth in Mind group started by Robert Goodman, Professor of Brain and Behavioral Medicine at King’s College, London, for providing instruments and data on psychological health across the world.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Business School, University of Edinburgh, 29 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9JS, United Kingdom

    Ammar Alsayed

  2. Department of Business Administration, Antalya International University, Antalya, Turkey

    Vivienne J. Wildes

Authors
  1. Ammar Alsayed
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  2. Vivienne J. Wildes
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Correspondence to Ammar Alsayed.

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The authors assert that all procedures contributing to this work comply with the ethical standards of the relevant national and institutional committees.

Appendix

Appendix

Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire

For each item, please mark the box for Not True, Somewhat True or Certainly True. It would help us if you answered all items as best you can even if you are not absolutely certain. Please give your answers on the basis of how things have been for you over the last six months (Youth in Mind, n.d.).

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Alsayed, A., Wildes, V.J. Syrian Refugee Children: A Study of Strengths and Difficulties. J. Hum. Rights Soc. Work 3, 81–88 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41134-018-0057-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41134-018-0057-4

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