Examining Post-Migration Social Determinants as Predictors of Mental and Physical Health of Recent Syrian Refugees in Canada: Implications for Counselling, Practice, and Research

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47634/cjcp.v54i4.68881

Abstract

In response to the increasing number of Syrian refugees being resettled in Canada and worldwide, the present study set out to explore and examine critical post-migration predictors of mental health and physical health of adult Syrian refugees (n = 235) living in Windsor, Ontario. Using survey data collected from the national SyRIA-lth project and grounded in the Social Determinants of Health model, this study tested demographic, contextual, and psychosocial predictors in two regression models of mental health and physical health, respectively. The results showed that both predictive models were significant in explaining Syrian refugees’ mental and physical health outcomes, as hypothesized. Specifically, age, gender, satisfaction of health services, perceived control, and perceived stress predicted mental health in significant ways, whereas age, satisfaction of health services, and perceived stress predicted physical health in significant ways as well. Implications for practice and research with Syrian refugees, given the identified risk and protective factors of health, are considered.

Author Biographies

Ben C. H. Kuo, University of Windsor

Ben C. H. Kuo is a professor of clinical psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of Windsor, a certified psychologist in Ontario, and director of the Multicultural Clinical and Counselling Research Group at the University of Windsor.

Lais Granemann, University of Brasilia

Lais Granemann completed a master’s degree in Social Work and Organizational Psychology at the University of Brasilia (Brazil). She is presently a doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at Fordham University (USA).

Avideh Najibzadeh, Azad University of Semnan

Avideh Najibzadeh completed a doctoral program in general psychology at Azad University of Semnan (Iran). She is now a registered psychotherapist (qualifying) in Ontario.

Riham Al-Saadi, University of Windsor

Riham Al-Saadi is a doctoral candidate at the School of Social Work at the University of Windsor. She completed her master’s degree in social work and her undergraduate degree in behaviour, cognition, and neuroscience (biology and psychology) at the University of Windsor.

Monira Dali, University of Windsor

Monira Dali completed a Master of Arts in social data analysis at the University of Windsor. Currently, she is completing a Master of Arts in counselling psychology at Yorkville University.

Bayan Alsmoudi, University of Windsor

Bayan Al-Smoudi completed her bachelor’s degree in disability studies from the University of Windsor and the autism and behavioural science program from St. Clair College. She has worked as a research assistant in multiple projects at the University of Windsor.

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Published

2020-12-12

How to Cite

Kuo, B. C. H., Granemann, L., Najibzadeh, A., Al-Saadi, R., Dali, M., & Alsmoudi, B. (2020). Examining Post-Migration Social Determinants as Predictors of Mental and Physical Health of Recent Syrian Refugees in Canada: Implications for Counselling, Practice, and Research. Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 54(4), 778–802. https://doi.org/10.47634/cjcp.v54i4.68881