Psychosocial and emotional well-being of Syrian refugee children and adolescents in Jordan: In-camp versus out-of-camp comparative analysis

Othman B. Yonis; Yousef Khader; Hana Taha; Ahmed Al-Madhwahi; Sara A. Khudair; Eizaburo Tanaka; Mohannad Al Nsour

doi:10.52225/narra.v4i2.849

Authors

Othman B. Yonis Department of Community Medicine, Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7369-171X
Yousef Khader Department of Community Medicine, Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7830-6857
Hana Taha Department of Pharmacology, Public Health and Clinical Skills, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8710-8249
Ahmed Al-Madhwahi Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3049-3942
Sara A. Khudair Health Sciences Unit, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6172-6898
Eizaburo Tanaka Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9979-0222
Mohannad Al Nsour The Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network, Amman, Jordan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1212-1611

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52225/narra.v4i2.849

Keywords:

Syrian refugee children, psychosocial life, emotional disorder, camp refugee, urban refugee

Abstract

There is a notable gap in understanding how different living arrangements influence the psychosocial and emotional well-being of Syrian refugee children and adolescents. Moreover, limited literature exists on the comparison between in-camp and out-of-camp living situations. The aim of this study was to compare the psychosocial and emotional status between camp and non-camp Syrian refugee children and adolescents living in Jordan. A nationwide school survey was conducted in Jordan from December 2022 to April 2023 and targeted children (8–11 years) and adolescents (12–18 years), encompassing Jordanians, Syrians, and Palestinians, both in camps (camp refugees) and urban areas (urban refugees). In this paper, the analysis was limited to Syrian refugees. A total of 1,420 children and 1,249 adolescents were included. Children in camps had higher rates of hyperactivity (12.7% vs 8.3%) and total difficulties (19.3% vs 13.9%) compared to urban dwellers. However, they had lower rates of bedtime problems (12.8% vs 17.0%) and problematic internet use (19.9% vs 34.8%). Camp adolescents had higher rates of separation anxiety disorder (44.0% vs 37.8%) and conduct problems (22.2% vs 15.0%), but lower rates of poor physical functioning (43.3% vs 52.3%) compared to urban adolescents. Adjusted analysis showed lower odds of generalized anxiety disorder (OR=0.59), problematic internet use (OR=0.39), and bedtime problems (OR=0.67) for camp children. However, they had higher odds of emotional symptoms (OR=1.47), hyperactivity (OR=2.08), and overall difficulties (OR=1.50). Camp adolescents had higher odds of overall difficulties (OR=1.49) but lower odds of poor physical functioning (OR=0.67) compared to urban adolescents. In conclusion, children in refugee camps had lower rates of problematic internet use and bedtime issues but higher rates of hyperactivity and overall difficulties than urban children. Similarly, camp adolescents faced more total difficulties but reported better physical functioning than their urban peers. The complex interplay between living conditions and well-being underscores the need for tailored mental health interventions for displaced populations.