| dc.description.abstract | Since 2011, millions of children have been displaced by the Syrian war. The psychological effects of this experience can be severe, but children tend to differ in their response, with some appearing resilient. A range of possible explanatory factors have been identified, but the existing literature often focuses on individual outcomes and disproportionately relies on cross-sectional data from children settled in high income countries. My objective was to apply multi-dimensional and longitudinal perspectives to investigate resilience and mental health in a vulnerable sample of Syrian refugee children. Within this were five main aims: (1) estimate the proportion of children who could be described as resilient; (2) identify predictors of risk and resilience; (3) investigate how mental health and resilience change over time; (4) investigate reciprocal relationships between children and their environment; (5) investigate the mediating pathways through which environmental factors impact the child. To address these aims, I used data from 1,591 Syrian refugee child-caregiver dyads living in refugee camps in Lebanon, 1,000 of whom were followed up one year later. Overall, mental health improved from baseline to follow-up, but fewer children than expected showed resistance to or recovery from mental health problems (i.e., resilience). A range of individual and socio-ecological factors were associated with risk and resilience, the most consistent of which were self-esteem, bullying, caregiver mental health, and parenting factors. The wider environment had indirect effects on children, via caregiver mental health and harsh parenting. In turn, child mental health was predictive of multiple factors. I conclude that considering multiple dimensions of mental health is crucial, and demonstrates that Syrian refugee children living in camps need psychological support. The pathways I identify within the family and from the wider environment indicate a need for systemic interventions that consider the complexity of the family and refugee context. | en_US |
