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Ethnic identification, discrimination, and mental and physical health among Syrian refugees: The moderating role of identity needs
Author(s) -
Çelebi Elif,
Verkuyten Maykel,
Bagci Sabahat Cigdem
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
european journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1099-0992
pISSN - 0046-2772
DOI - 10.1002/ejsp.2299
Subject(s) - psychology , mental health , optimal distinctiveness theory , ethnic group , identity (music) , social psychology , refugee , social identity theory , psychological resilience , anxiety , physical health , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , social group , psychiatry , sociology , political science , law , physics , anthropology , acoustics
Using a risk and resilience framework and motivated identity construction theory, we investigated the moderating role of identity needs in the association between social identification and perceived discrimination with mental and physical health among a sample of Syrian refugees ( N = 361) in Turkey. Results showed that there were two clusters of interrelated identity needs, namely, belonging (belonging, continuity, and esteem) and efficacy (efficacy, meaningfulness, and distinctiveness). Higher perceived ethnic discrimination was found to be associated with poorer mental and physical health but not for respondents who derived a sense of efficacy from their Syrian identity. Higher Syrian identification was associated with lower depression and anxiety but more strongly for refugees who derived a sense of belonging and continuity from their Syrian identity. The findings indicate that investigating the motivational aspects of identity formation is important for understanding when discrimination and group identification undermine or rather contribute to the well‐being and health of refugees. These findings are discussed in relation to the growing research on social identities and health.