This pilot study explored the challenges experienced by Syrian and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and the role of resilience in general health and mental wellbeing.
This was a mixed methods cross-sectional study conducted in the cities of Beirut and Tripoli in Lebanon. Two hundred Syrian and Palestinian refugees were surveyed and 20 of them participated in in-depth interviews. Descriptive statistics summarized the demographic characteristics, depression, anxiety, resilience, somatic symptoms, and technological use. Associations between resilience and depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms were measured by calculating Pearson correlation coefficients and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients. Inductive and deductive coding and analysis was used in qualitative data.
Refugees’ migration journey was characterized by fear, lack of safety, and lack of food. In Lebanon, they experienced discrimination, racism, and challenges in meeting necessities. The three most important challenges experienced by refugees were securing electricity (40.8%), getting medicines (41.6%), and accessing medical care (37%). The mean resilience score was 68.20 ± 19.35. Palestinian refugees had higher mean resilience scores (77.01 ± 17.4) compared to Syrian (61.34 ± 19.45) and Syrian Palestinian (61.14 ± 14.69) refugees. Majority of participants had high levels of somatic complaints with a mean PHQ-15 score of 14.29 ± 6.77. The median GAD-7 score was 14.7 [11.0, 20.0], with the majority of participants (n = 161, 80.5%) reporting moderate or severe anxiety. The mean PHQ-9 score was 15.38 ± 7.33, with most of the participants (n = 121, 60.5%) reporting moderately severe or severe major depression symptoms. Higher resilience levels were associated with lower anxiety, depression, and somatic levels. Religion, friends, family, and good communication were reported as helping refugees cope with challenges.
Resilience impacts physical and mental health. Participants with high resilience were found to have better mental and physical health outcomes. Those with higher resilience also reported stronger ties and use of these factors to overcome their challenges.
